Drug Jar
ca. 1507 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
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 | Drug jar, tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours and inscription 'DIA CHASSIA', Deruta, Italy, ca. 1507 |
Physical description | Drug jar of tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours. The inscription 'DIA CHASSIA' is painted on a horizontal label, cutting across a panel enclosed by a large oval wreath of green foliage and yellow fruit tied with green ribbons. Above the label is a youth in costume of the period seated on a bench braying drugs in a mortar; below it a monster swallowing a naked boy. The base is incised, possibly with a pharmacy mark. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Bequeathed by George Salting, Esq. |
Object history | This jar belongs to the same set as 668-1884 (Rackham catalogue 404) Salting Collection, lent to the Museum on 28 June 1899. Bought by George Salting at the Bardini Sale Cat., Christie's, 5 June 1899, French ed., pl.6, no.105, lot 77, for £ 77 Castellani Sale Cat., Rome, 1 April 1884, Lot 84; |
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 similar jars, probably from the same set, have survived., one is dated 1507. This pot depicts a youth in comtemporaty dress braying drugs with a pestle in a large mortar of the type which was used by apothecaries of the Renaissance period. |
Production | A few similar jars, probably from the same set, have survived; some are dated 1507. |
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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Other number | 405 - Rackham (1977) |
Collection | |
Accession number | C.2093-1910 |
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Record created | December 6, 2005 |
Record URL |
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