Jar
ca. 1660-1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jars to contain spices, herbs and medicinal syrups became popular across Europe between 1500 and 1750. They were made in many places. In spite of this, the Dutch East India Company found it more economical to import large numbers of medicine jars from China. The inscription on this jar is 'ELECT. IND.', an abbreviation for Electuarium Indum majus. This indicates that the jar was a container for a strong laxative medicine made from crushed turpeth root, scammony, cardamom seeds, cinnamon and other ingredients.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain, painted in underglaze blue |
| Brief description | Jar, porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue, China (Jingdezhen), ca. 1660-80 |
| Physical description | Jar made of porcelain painted in underglaze blue, form based on European majolica, in the shape of slender oviod with sides gently constricted in the middle, with short neck and low foot. One side painted with a rectangular cartouche with an inscription surmounted by a winged cupid, a similar cartouche with flowers only on the reverse, on a ground of flowering plants with birds and small animals. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | ELECT. IND. (Abbreviation for Electuarium Indum majus) |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Basil Ionides Bequest |
| Summary | Jars to contain spices, herbs and medicinal syrups became popular across Europe between 1500 and 1750. They were made in many places. In spite of this, the Dutch East India Company found it more economical to import large numbers of medicine jars from China. The inscription on this jar is 'ELECT. IND.', an abbreviation for Electuarium Indum majus. This indicates that the jar was a container for a strong laxative medicine made from crushed turpeth root, scammony, cardamom seeds, cinnamon and other ingredients. |
| Bibliographic reference | Clunas, Craig (ed.). Chinese Export Art and Design. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1987, p. 37, fig. 14. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.70-1963 |
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| Record created | November 7, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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