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Pharmacy jar: C.2278-1928

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An image of Pharmacy jar
An image of Pharmacy jar
An image of Pharmacy jar
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

Maiolica pharmacy jar, painted in blue with an oval shield and a pharmacy badge.

Pale buff earthenware. The exterior and interior are covered with speckly tin-glaze, and there is a little glaze on the base. Painted in blue.
Albarello with convex swellings above and below the waist.
On the front is an oval shield charged with the arms on a bend between two fleurs-de-lis three mullets, within a frame of scrolls and ribbons with a heart at the top and a grotesque mask at the bottom. On the other side is a pharmacy badge: a heart enclosing the initials `.G. .B.' over `1708', surmounted by a cross.

Notes

History note: Countess Howard de Walden; Thomas Sutton, Eastbourne, from whom purchased in February 1900 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher for £1 (Typed Cat. 1103).unknown

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 14.3 cm
Width: 9.2 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Early
Production date: AD 1708

Note

A Siena attribution for this jar is suggested by the arms which resemble those of Bensi of Siena, azure a bend or charged with three mullets azure between two fleurs-de-lis, but without yellow to represent gold.

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colour ( blue)
Base Diameter 7.0 cm
Rim Diameter 9.0 cm

Materials used in production

Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Throwing : Pale buff earthenware. The exterior and interior are covered with speckly tin-glaze, and there is a little glaze on the base. Painted in blue.
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: when acquired by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher it had a label on it marked 'Urbino'.

  • Text: Urbino
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.2278-1928
Primary reference Number: 48314

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 April 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Pharmacy jar" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/48314 Accessed: 2025-12-06 12:15:21

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/48314 |title=Pharmacy jar |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 12:15:21|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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