Drug Jar
1490-1510 (made)
| Place of origin |
This jar was used for storing drugs. It would have been part of a set of similar jars for different drugs, belonging to a pharmacy. The constriction just underneath the rim was used to close the pot off with a piece of parchment or paper and a string. A few more jars from the same set have survived, including one with a spout, for a liquid drug.
Pharmacies in the Renaissance period were usually run by a monastic orders as part of their hospitals, or by one of the leading local families. The badge of the order or the arms of the family can be found on many surviving drug jars. The flower on our jar would probably have had such a function.
Pharmacies in the Renaissance period were usually run by a monastic orders as part of their hospitals, or by one of the leading local families. The badge of the order or the arms of the family can be found on many surviving drug jars. The flower on our jar would probably have had such a function.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours |
| Brief description | Drugjar, tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours with flower in a wreath and inscription 'E LEBERO.BIÃCHO' |
| Physical description | Drugjar of tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours, depicting a single flower in a wreath above a label with inscription: 'E LEBERO.BIÃCHO'. Above and beneath the letters, faint blue lines can be seen, which were used as a guide for the painter of the script. The rest of the body is covered with gothic foliage against a background of small spirals and dots. On the shoulder and around the base circular rings with a middle band of dashes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'E LEBERO.BIÃCHO' (The Italian inscription on the painted label refers to the original contents of the jar.)
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| Credit line | Castellani Collection |
| Object history | Castellani collection; acquired with another drug jar from the set: 667a-1884 , transferred to Circulation 10th February 1909 |
| Historical context | This jar was used for storing drugs. It would have been part of a set of similar jars for different drugs, belonging to a pharmacy. The constriction just underneath the rim was used to close the pot off with a piece of parchment or paper and a string. A few more jars from the same set have survived, including one with a spout, for a liquid drug. |
| Production | Stated by Cora, 1973 to be from Florentine Zone (see Bibl.Ref.) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This jar was used for storing drugs. It would have been part of a set of similar jars for different drugs, belonging to a pharmacy. The constriction just underneath the rim was used to close the pot off with a piece of parchment or paper and a string. A few more jars from the same set have survived, including one with a spout, for a liquid drug. Pharmacies in the Renaissance period were usually run by a monastic orders as part of their hospitals, or by one of the leading local families. The badge of the order or the arms of the family can be found on many surviving drug jars. The flower on our jar would probably have had such a function. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 667-1884 |
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| Record created | December 1, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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