Stone Thresher

Datationa and origin: 19th century, Dvori / Movraž in Istria.

A stone treadle-powered thresher in which maize was husked and less often barley for making minestrone, which was in the past the most frequently prepared peasant dish. The stone part of the thresher is a large round stone, with a hollow for the grains. A smaller wooden pestle, used for pounding the grains, is attached to a wooden pole and fixed to the stone bed on the other side.  By pressing down on the pole, consequently lifting and lowering the pestle, they pounded the grains, thus husking them.