An early piece of treen, dating from around 1680, Charles II, a spice mortar grinder
The handle section still has its original metal plate as does the inside section, to grind spices and herbs. The base comes apart to retrieve the ground ingredients. Incised line decoration. At some stage in its 350 year life it has had some wood worm, long gone, not active and all treated. The rim of the main section has a section that has been filled at the edge a long time ago, presumably to ensure the handle/lid sits straight.
Overall for its age its doing well, a rare survivor, not a great deal deal of treen survives from this period.
It has a great  nutty colour and patina.
c1680
It measures 25cm h x 9cm w at the base.
A very similar one is illustrated in Treen for the Table.