Utensils and machinery used in a traditional mill. The figure of an animal used in the grinding and a man working the presser showing the physical tiredness spent during the daily milling process, but also the intelligence and perfection of the methods used. The machinery used was fabricated from solid blocks of rock excavated locally, strong and robust wooden trunks selected for their dimensions and only a few metal parts. A scale model demonstrates the machinery in movement.
 

The details of the millstone
Stone was the only possible raw material at disposition to be used for creating the essential parts of a mill such as the baths, grinding-stones and many parts of the press. In the western part of Liguria the stone generally used is called “colombino” a grey calcareous rock present in great quantities over the area and which was excavated and sculptured into a design for use in the grinding and pressing operations. These stones, which weighed many tons, were then transported to the mills. The continual usage of the stones in the grinding process against the bottom of the stone bath meant that the press become worn with in a short length of time.

Material: variety of local calcareous rocks (“Colombino”)
Dimensions: diameter 130cm. Thickness 35cm.
Manufacturing technique: shaping, hammering and rolling
Origin: west Liguria
Dated: XIX century
Function: the grinding of olives