SHINY
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HAPPY WEEKEND TO ALL
I don't have the "eye" for photography. So you will never come by my blog on Saturday and find an artistic photo. But I try to come up with a photo that means something to me, as well as illustrates the theme.
The other day I was in my living room and the sun, streaming through the window, was shining on this brass mortar and pestle. SHINY, I said to myself. They came to me from a dear friend, a professor of pharmacy, who died of a brain tumour 21 years ago. She was the first person I met when I came to Canada forty six years ago and we remained friends until she died. It's a replica of an antique mortar and pestle and the Latin inscription around the rim says:
The other day I was in my living room and the sun, streaming through the window, was shining on this brass mortar and pestle. SHINY, I said to myself. They came to me from a dear friend, a professor of pharmacy, who died of a brain tumour 21 years ago. She was the first person I met when I came to Canada forty six years ago and we remained friends until she died. It's a replica of an antique mortar and pestle and the Latin inscription around the rim says:
HEINRICH TER HERSTER ME FECIT ANNO 1607
which means Heinrich Ter Herster made me in 1607
which means Heinrich Ter Herster made me in 1607
It always strikes me that this is a particularly useless shape for a mortar and pestle but I suppose it worked for the things they did at the time, like pound leaves into powder. The mortars and pestles I used in my career in pharmacy had a very different shape.
If you want to join the Saturday Photo Hunt or you want to view the blogroll click on the appropriate place on my sidebar.
HAPPY WEEKEND TO ALL
44 comments:
Wonderful. Very shiny and a fun thin to think about. I work part time as researcher with an antique appraiser and and ADORE things like this. It really would be useless for most things you need such a thing for wouldn't it. Yet there is somethign very appealing about the detail that went into the design--aesthetics over usefulness I guess.
Beautiful! I love mortars and pestles. My father is a doctor so they remind me of him.
Beautiful choice for The Hunt. And how nice that this mortar & pestle have a personal connection to you.
That's a great photo and a wonderful choice for the hunt. I enjoyed reading about it too. Happy Saturday!
JMB, it's beautiful. And very shiny. I like the way it catches the light. I love brass. I have quite a few brass things that my grandfather brought back from India, and I appreciate them more as I get older.
Beautiful .. thanks for sharing.
beautiful. I love to view old mortar and pestles!! Great choice and very shiny! Do you have to shine it by hand?
That's shiny alright and perfect for the theme. That was a wonderful story, too. I'm in my tunnel and Mom's flash made it look shiny!! (S)
Have a Happy Hunting Saturday!!
Samantha, Tigger and Mom
What a neat thing to have to remember a friend by!
What a great momento to own, the sentimental value must be great. Great choice for the them, oh and nothing wrong with the picture, I would say none of us are professional photographers.
it's beautiful and it shows a side of you which is quite personal. thank you for sharing.
What do you write, can't take good picturs ? that's not true, this one is just beautiful and very shiny !
What a beautiful reminder of your friend. I love the story as much as the actual photo!
Great choice for Photo Hunt.
This is beautiful. I have a lot of brassware myself...I can't afford gold..LOL The Saturday Photo Hunt seems a nice idea...I may have to think about it myself.
Nice shot indeed! Have a great weekend
Love the photo! You do indeed have an artistic eye!
On the contrary, I think you take great photos. It's wonderful how the sun can give something a lovely effect. I'm sure that mortar and pestle is very significant. Thanks for visiting earlier.
That's beautiful. A great gift for a great friend. It is valuable to you. :)
That's really nice, I like that a lot.
JMB that is such a sweet gift from your friend...I have brasso handy! Brass horses and trophies we have won from racing, twice a year I bring them back to life, brasso still fascinates me, how it works..
The native animal park is near where I live, actually one of several...I seem to be right in native flora fauna heaven... and Brass Monty I trained for his owner who lives in town...(rather, trained his owner)....Monty was a handful for him at one stage....I am Monty's Aunty Pam now.:)
He visits and has sleepovers...we all adore him. When he leaves to go back to town he hugs us goodbye.
Pam
That is incredible the mortar made 400 years ago!
Now that is beautiful! I love old things. Most of them survive because of their quality and how people take care of them. :)
You are much like me. My pictures for Photo Hunt are not artistic and would not win awards. But to me, they are priceless.
I love the story behind your picture today.
Thanks for visiting my site!
It not only shines but the memories that go with it shines too.
have a great weekend!
Beautiful mortar and pestle! Lovely intricate designs around the outside. Thank you for sharing the story that goes along with it.
Very cool photo, love the personal connection, too.
Although I do enjoy looking at the beautiful photography some people post, I find offerings such as yours more interesting, with their attached memories and/or background information. Thank you.
A lovely photo and the sentiments behind it are precious. Thank you for sharing.
I have three mortars & pestles at home; two totally useless. But the other is a wedgewood and I use it all the time for cooking, now. It brings back the good memories of twenty years of my life, every time I pick it up and hear that distincive sound that it has.
That is a delightful memento from a friend. Mortar and pestles come in so may shapes and sizes, each having a different use. This one must be more for looks as it is quite elegant looking. Beautiful photo Jmb.
Wowww.. so old and still well kept and shiny.
They're the symbol of the pharmaceutical profession, eh?
I THINK THIS IS GREAT - WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE NO EYE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY! (Ooops, didn't realize I was shouting but the emphasis is applicable!) Ditto on your Alaskan comment and it also applies to Vancouver BC - Id love to spend a great deal more time there again one day!
Grins,
That is very cool, and a wonderful memento!
It's beautiful and it has so much history. Thanks for sharing.
Nice entry. Thank you for sharing. :)
I think this fits the theme great and it has great meaning behind it. Great shot!
Amanda
Very pretty! Great photo and a wonderful story behind it.
http://burnettfamnews.blogspot.com/2007/06/photo-hunters-shiny.html
That is very beautiful... great photo too. :)
Happy weekend!
This is a gorgeous antique piece. Most of the mortars and pestles I've seen have been carved from marble. This is lovely!
Lovely pic and great post...I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, jmb. :) Great portar and mestle, too! Ooops...I'd better have another glass of red! ;)
Wonderful. Beautiful choice with a beautiful memory attached.
That indeed is a special gift from a memorable friend. It's an excellent photo.
Oh that is very handsome...I would love to display that in my entranceway....I think that is a great choice for the hunt....I never did the hunt this week....I couldn't find something shiny....
I would disagree with the statement that you don't have a photographic eye. Great shot.
What a lovely m & p!
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