Mortar Collection

Diego Velazquez (1599-1660). Old Woman Cooking Eggs, 1618
Diego Velazquez (1599-1660). Spanish Baroque painter. The Old Woman Cooking Eggs, 1618. Oil on canvas. National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

Bricklayers 1827
A bricklayer standing on a rather precarious looking scaffold. His assistant mixes mortar behind him; his hod for carrying bricks etc is nearby

Churchill AVRE Tank in France; Second World War, 1944
Photograph showing a Churchill AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) tank moving up to the front, France, 1944

Ichthyosaurus as a museum piece
Cartoon of an Ichthyosaurus as a museum piece, in the Ballad of the Ichthyosaurus

London going out of town -- the expansion of London
London going out of town, or, The March of Bricks & Mortar -- Cruikshanks cartoon comment on the expansion of London

Queen Elizabeth visits Lloyds, 1952
Queen Elizabeth II visits Lloyds to lay the foundations tone of their new building in Lime Street. This picture shows her Majesty taking a trowel full of mortar ready to lay the stone

Porthgain lime workings, Pembrokeshire, West Wales
View of Porthgain lime workings on the Pembrokeshire coast, West Wales

Little Tich
LITTLE TICH (Harry Relph) Music hall entertainer (1867 - 1928), pictured in a school-themed costume with mortar board. Date: c.1905

The Chemist 1827
A chemist with his apprentice in his laboratory. A copper alembic is on his left, to the right a sand heat and a furnace is in the middle. Date: 1827

Emily Davison
The Late Miss E.W Davison Postcard published in commemoration of EMILY DAVISON showing her in academic garb

Periscopes in Trenches
With shells bursting overhead and trench mortar ready, Seaforth Highlanders watch through a periscope for the Germans

Cartoon, The Macmillion (Andrew Carnegie)
Cartoon, The Macmillion -- Andrew Carnegie (1835 - 1919), Scottish-American industrialist, business magnate, and philanthropist

Oxford University robes: Proctor (full dress)
A Proctor at Oxford University sporting a mortarboard and long, black gown, with a white fur hood. Date: 1920s

Rev. Edward Hale, Vanity Fair, Spy
Reverend EDWARD HALE (1828- ) Master at Eton College, England, here dressed in gown and mortar board. Caption: Badger Date: 1828-

British First Airborne Troops using a mortar, Arnhem; Second
Photograph showing men of the British First Airborne Division using a 3-inch mortar in one of the woods surrounding Arnhem, in Holland, September 1944

The Blackville Medical Man. Yes
SOUTH: ROOT DOCTOR. The Blackville Medical Man. " Yes, dis is a clear case of Difflomania. " Wood engraving, American, c1880

Ww1 / French Mortar
A French shell-launcher

C16 CHEMISTs SHOP
MEDICINES WHILE YOU WAIT: a druggist of the 16th century prepares a medicament, pounding the ingredients with pestle and mortar while two customers wait with their dog. Date: circa 1570

Lionel G. B. Justice Ford, Vanity Fair, Strickland
LIONEL GEORGE BRIDGES JUSTICE FORD (1865-1932) Anglican priest and part-time cricketer who served as Dean of York (1925-1932) after headmasterships at the schools of Repton (1901) and Harrow (1910)

Cheery Families - Mr Switch the Schoolmaster. 1890s

Mortar Calculations - Fort Wright - Fishers Island, New York
Directing the range of the Mortars - Fort Wright - Fishers Island - New York, USA

Beating the Bounds Boats
ENGLAND - BEATING THE BOUNDS Choirboys and dignitaries sailing down the Thames in rowing boats, en route to St. Clement Danes for the beating the parish boundaries ceremony Date: early 1930s

Beating Bounds, 1930
ENGLAND BEATING THE BOUNDS Cheerful choirboys pose with rods prior to beating the parish boundaries at Lincolns Inn, London Date: 1930

SILENT STILL: LABORATORIES. Warner Baxter as Dr. Samuel Mudd, The Prisoner of Shark Island, 1936

Happy Schoolboy Days
Satire on the compulsory education act. Those not attending school are now committing a criminal offence. A truant is put in chains by 2 school board policemen

French druggist and grocer, 16th century. Engraving after an illustration by Jean de Vries in the 16th century

French druggist and grocer, 16th century. Engraving after an illustration by Jean de Vries in the 16th century

Chemist holding up a flask at a table in a laboratory. With mortar and pestle, flasks, pots, furnace and still

A physician and his servant, 13th century
Bearded doctor with parchment scroll instructing his assistant with mortar and pestle. The doctor wears a Phrygian cap, mantle, dalmatica with embroidered girdle and hem, purple tunic underneath

Skeleton of Death in a quack doctor's apothecary shop, wearing an apron mixing poison in a mortar and pestle. The workshop decorated with jars, phials, sieve, surgical saw and syringe

Costumes of Japan, 1800s

Brick houses built by the Incas, Peru. Plan of a building a, part of an interior wall b, part of an exterior wall, methods of embedding d and e

Middle Ages. Portable firearm. 13th century. Bombard
Middle Ages. Portable firearm. 13th century.. Bombard. Cromolithography. Historia General de Espana by Modesto Lafuente. Volume II. Published in Barcelona, 1879

Spain. New Plasencia Cannons. Experimental howitzer-mortar
Spain. The new Plasencia Cannons. Experimental howitzer-mortar nr. 1. Testing at the Torregorda camp (Cadiz) during the months of June to September 1882. Calibre 21 cm. Withstood 602 shots in tests

Picture No. 12480245
Great Grey Owl, wearing glasses and mortar board Date:

Men and women in St Trinians costume, Cornwall
Men and women in St Trinians school uniform, Cornwall, possibly university students during rag week. Date: circa 1980s

The petard, a medieval explosive device in the form of a metal cone filled with gunpowder attached to a gate to blow it open. Invented in France in 1579 for Henri IV, King of Navarre

13 inch mortar shell, American War of Independence, 1765-83 (metal)
3429546 13 inch mortar shell, American War of Independence, 1765-83 (metal) by French School

Over 200 schoolchildren from Wood Green School, North London, went on a Hovercraft trip from Dover to make a first hand study of the Goodwin Sands

French soldiers raiding a German trench, First World War, 1914-1918, (1933). French troops making a daylight raid on the German trenches in search of prisoners for information purposes

Study of two mortars able to throw explosive bombs, 1478-1518. Creator: Leonardo da Vinci
Study of two mortars able to throw explosive bombs, 1478-1518. Found in the Collection of Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Picture No. 12479632
Cat - Exotic Shorthair wearing glasses and mortar board Date:

An unexploded mortar shell fired by Syrian Army is seen in Mleha suburb of Damascus, January 25, 2013. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Piece of a mortar projectile is pictured on a road near the airport in Donetsk
A piece of a mortar projectile is pictured on a road near the airport in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, September 1, 2014

Europe, Italy. Liguria. Preparing genovese pesto during a cooking course

Italy. Liguria. Genova district. Genova, Genoa. Pesto alla Genovese

Africa, Benin, Taneka Koko. a still life of the open air kitchen and storage huts

U. S. Army soldiers firing a 120mm mortar during combat operations in Afghanistan
October 23, 2007 - U.S. Army soldiers fire a 120mm mortar during combat operations in the Da udzay Valley in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan

Mortar, 17th Century (chromolitho)
2782548 Mortar, 17th Century (chromolitho) by European School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mortar, 17th Century. Liebig card, published early 20th century)

A woodblock engraving depicting hands using a pestle and mortar, 18th century
5310980 A woodblock engraving depicting hands using a pestle and mortar, 18th century; (add.info.: Date: 1795); Universal History Archive/UIG

Apothecary in his shop using a mortar and pestle to prepare a medicine
FLO4577808 Apothecary in his shop using a mortar and pestle to prepare a medicine

Austrian soldiers using a 305 mm
3502758 Austrian soldiers using a 305 mm, mortar during World War One, from The Pageant of the Century, pub.1934; (add.info.: Austrian soldiers using a 305 mm, mortar during World War One)

A Sub-Lime Character, building labourer carrying hod of mortar
536460 A Sub-Lime Character, building labourer carrying hod of mortar. Early 19th century (aquatint); Universal History Archive/UIG

Chinese paper-making
FLO4590201 Chinese paper-making, second process: workers mixing glue from the hao-teng vine while another pounds farina of rice in a pestle and mortar

American Revolution, French 13" Mortar
3031430 American Revolution, French 13" Mortar; Private Collection; (add.info.: French 13" iron siege mortar dated 1772 at Fort Ticonderoga.); © Don Troiani. All Rights Reserved 2023

Carronade, short piece of naval ordnance with large calibre chamber
530460 Carronade, short piece of naval ordnance with large calibre chamber, like a mortar. Name said to come from Carron Ironworks, Scotland. Wood engraving, c1884.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Casting a mortar at Grissell's Regent's Canal Ironworks
538551 Casting a mortar at Grissell's Regent's Canal Ironworks, City Road, London, 1855 (engraving); (add.info.: Casting a mortar at Grissell's Regent's Canal Ironworks, City Road)

The Druggist, using pestle and mortar to grind ingredients
538125 The Druggist, using pestle and mortar to grind ingredients. By Jost Amman, 16th century (woodcut); Universal History Archive/UIG

Carronade, short piece of naval ordnance with large calibre chamber
530461 Carronade, short piece of naval ordnance with large calibre chamber, like a mortar. Name said to come from Carron Ironworks, Scotland. Wood engraving, 1850; Universal History Archive/UIG

American Revolution, British bronze cohorn mortar captured at Stony Pt
3501346 American Revolution, British bronze cohorn mortar captured at Stony Pt; West Point Museum, New York

The beauty of fruit
Saskia Dingemans

Lime Kilns: burning limestone to produce lime for cement and mortar
535996 Lime Kilns: burning limestone to produce lime for cement and mortar, and for agricultural use. Wood engraving 1872; Universal History Archive/UIG

French grocer and druggist. 16th century (print)
538128 French grocer and druggist. 16th century (print); (add.info.: In foreground a boy uses pestle and mortar to grind ingredients)

King Geo. studies trench bombs, 7 Jul 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
King Geo. studies trench bombs, 7 Jul 1917

King George V sees trench bombing, 7 Jul 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
King George V sees trench bombing, 7 Jul 1917. Trench mortar bombardment during King George V's visit to the Gas School, Helfaut, France on July 7, 1917 during World War I

Austrian 24 cm. mortar captured by Russians, between 1914 and c1915. Russian soldiers and civilians with a mortar weapon during World War I

The Shors demonstrate the main tools for cultivating the land (hoe - "abyl")
The Shors demonstrate the main tools for cultivating the land (hoe - "abyl", harrow) and grain (hand winnower, mortar, millstone), 1913

Autour de la Bataille; Canon de 138, 6 de la marine, 1918. Creator: Unknown
Autour de la Bataille; Canon de 138, 6 de la marine, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

Autour de la Bataille; Mortier de 370, 1918. Creator: Unknown
Autour de la Bataille; Mortier de 370, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

Lighting a mortar in an armoured battery, 1832, (1833). Creator: Auguste Raffet
Lighting a mortar in an armoured battery, 1832, (1833). Batterie de mortiers blindee - Etabli sur la Courtine qui joint le Bastion de Tolede au Bastion Pacioto'

Mallet's Three-Foot Mortar, 1857. Creator: Unknown
Mallet's Three-Foot Mortar, 1857. British shell-firing mortar built for the Crimean War, but never used in combat. Mr

Large Mortar, cast at the Vauxhall Foundry, Liverpool, 1856. Creator: Ebenezer Landells
Large Mortar, cast at the Vauxhall Foundry, Liverpool, 1856. This immense mortar was cast at the works of Messrs

Captain Glasse, and his Chief Engineer, H.M.S. "Vulture", superintending the repairs of the Mortars during the Bombardment of Sveaborg - sketched by J. W. Carmichael, 1856

Contrastes sur le front de la Somme; Magasin de canons de tranchee a proximite du front, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

Wichita mortar, c1927. Creator: Edward Sheriff Curtis
Wichita mortar, c1927. Wichita woman using mortar and pestle

Garlic and Pepper
Lydia Jacobs

The Great War 1914-15, German heavy artillery the 340 mortar - WWI postcard published by A. Richard, Paris 1915 Date: 1915

Building mortar mill for Clough Bottom Reservoir, Rossendale
Building a mortar mill for the construction of Clough Bottom Reservoir, Rossendale, in the 1890s. Date: 1890s

Costumes of the Members of the University of Oxford
The Costumes of the Members of the University of Oxford Date: circa 1840

Silhouette portrait of Charles Dickens aged about fourteen Date: circa 1820s

Music cover, Cap and Gown Lancers, on airs from the Scottish Students Song Book, by Margaret Canmore, with views of Aberdeen, St Andrew's, Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities Date: 19th century

Weaponry, Middle Ages. Bombard. Engraving by Serra
Bombard. Cannon used throughout the Middle Ages an the Early Modern Period. Engraving by Serra. Museo Militar, 1883. Later colouration. Date: 2019

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Mortar: A Timeless Binding Force" Throughout history, it has served as a powerful symbol of unity and progress. From the vibrant brushstrokes of Diego Velazquez's masterpiece "Old Woman Cooking Eggs" to the diligent bricklayers in 1827, this versatile substance has played an integral role in shaping our world. In times of war, mortar took on new meaning as it propelled the Churchill AVRE Tank through the battlefields of France during World War II. Its strength and resilience became synonymous with courage and determination. Yet, mortar's significance extends beyond conflict. It found its place among ancient fossils like the Ichthyosaurus, standing proudly as a museum piece that bridges past and present. Even Queen Elizabeth herself recognized its importance when she visited Lloyds in 1952, acknowledging how it binds nations together. As London expanded outward, mortar became a cornerstone of growth and development. The Porthgain lime workings in West Wales stand testament to its ability to transform landscapes and build communities from scratch. But mortar is not just about grandeur; it also celebrates individuality. Little Tich danced his way into hearts using his unique style while showcasing how even small fragments can create something extraordinary when combined with care. Science too owes much to this humble material - whether it be depicted by "The Chemist" in 1827 or utilized for periscopes in trenches during wartime surveillance - demonstrating its versatility across various fields. Mortar witnessed pivotal moments throughout history – none more impactful than Emily Davison's brave act at the Epsom Derby which sparked change for women's rights worldwide. In her sacrifice lies a reminder that sometimes we must break down barriers before we can rebuild stronger foundations. Finally, within Oxford University robes worn by Proctors stands another testament to tradition upheld by mortar – reminding us that knowledge is built upon centuries-old wisdom passed down through generations. From artistry to warfare, expansion to individuality, it has been the binding force that holds our world together.