Herbs were very important in the 18th century. They had a wide range of uses, such as dying fabric, food seasoning, soap making, and medicine. People would use Trees and racks to hang their herbs to dry. Then they would use a mortar and pestle to grind up the herbs to be used for their desired purposes. 
 
Our herb drying tree is copied from an 18th-century original in George C. Neumann's collection. It is made from poplar wood and finished with boiled linseed oil. It measures 10 inches tall and features four arms that measure 4 1/2 inches long.