Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)
Maker(s)
Pottery:
uncertain
Entities
Categories
Description
Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue with the arms and motto of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries
Buff earthenware, with two suspension holes at the top, tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue. In the form of a flat shield, bearing the full arms of the Worshipful Spociety of Apothecaries and motto: 'OPIFERQVE PER ORBEM DICOR', with below, an oval shield bearing the arms of the City of London.
Notes
History note: W.F.A. Wilson; sold Christie's, 15 -16 November 1906, Catalogue of the collection of old English pottery and porcelain formed by W.F.A. Wilson, day one, lot 61a; bought by Mr Sutton on behalf of Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge
Legal notes
Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest
Measurements and weight
Depth: 1.3 cm
Depth: ½ in
Width: 26.8 cm
Width: 10 9/16 in
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed
(1928-12-07)
by
Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr
Dating
18th Century, first half
Circa
1705
CE
-
1740
CE
Note
Pill-tiles or slabs were used for rolling pills, but lack of wear on the surface of delftware examples, and the presence of suspension holes, suggests that they may have been hung up inside the shop. They are decorated with the arms of the Apothecaries’ Company, sometimes with the arms of London below.
The latin motto of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries was taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book I:521-2 where Apollo says, ‘inventum medicina meum est, opiferque per orbem dicor, et herbarum subiecta potentia nobis ei mihi’ (I am called Help-Bringer throughout the world and all the potency of herbs is given unto me).
School or Style
Baroque
People, subjects and objects depicted
Components of the work
Decoration
composed of
cobalt
Whole At Centre
Height 32 cm
Height 12 5/8 in
Materials used in production
Tin-glaze
Earthenware
Techniques used in production
Tin-glazing
Inscription or legends present
- Text: OPIFERQVE PER ORBEM DICOR
- Location: On front
- Method of creation: Painted in blue
- Type: Inscription
Inscription present: rectangular pale brown paper (possibly paler originally)
Inscription present: inscription
References and bibliographic entries
Identification numbers
Accession number: C.1316-1928
Primary reference Number: 71779
Old object number: 2598
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Tuesday 26 March 2024
Last processed: Tuesday 15 July 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
