My kingdom for a nutmeg

My mother told me something so fascinating, so revolutionary, that I have been reeling ever since. Put it this way: do you know where mace comes from?

Years ago I accidentally bought blade mace instead of powdered (for a beef + anchovy stew I rave about every 6 months; next rave due shortly). The blade mace was brown and rigid and shard-like and I had no idea how to render it into a powder. I inevitably tried the pestle 'n' mortar with poor results. But even then, with a curious lack of inquisitiveness, I didn't think to look up what mace actually was.

I guessed it was probably a spice like nutmeg, on account of its smell, which was pretty good going for my untuned senses.

Then quite by chance, a few weeks ago, my mother offered me the bronzed ovoid you see in this picture. It is the outside shell of a nutmeg, with a partial, vine-like lace-work of mace attached. When you shake the nut you can feel the nutmeg inside rattle, and it looks as if the mace will be easy to just snap off... I just had to take some photos first, it is absolutely beautiful.

I still have no idea how to powder the resiney mace substance, but by hook or by crook it will be going in that beef stew!