Pharmacy vase, Italy, 1740

Albarello drug jar used for Balsam of the Philosophers, Ital

Drug jar for Conserve of Alexandrian Roses, Venice, Italy, 1

Drug jar used for fine mustard, Sicily, 1501-1700

Albarello drug jar for the Universal Electuary, Italy, 1601-

Albarello drug jar used for Simple Honey of Roses, Italy, 17

Small albarello drug jar for spermaceti, Italy, 1701-1800

Albarello drug jar used to store savin oil, Italy, 1701-1800

Earthenware drug jar, Iran, 1201-1300

Earthenware pharmacy jar, China, 1644-1911

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This drug jar is labelled “DIASCORD”, an abbreviation of the full Latin name Diascodrium. This translates as “water germander”, which was a thick liquid medical preparation (known as an electuary) that had a similar consistency to honey. It contained a range of ingredients and existed in a variety of different recipes – some including opium. Among the conditions it was at times used to treat were diarrhoea, dysentery, plague, colic and fevers. It could induce sleep and was recommended for women during childbirth. 

Drug jars have a number of different shapes, design motifs and decorative styles which can help date the objects. Although quite crude in design, the face of the winged cherub – a feature of numerous drug jars – is quite realistic. Elsewhere a songbird motif and peacock feathers can be seen.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: England, United Kingdom

Drug jar for Water Germander electuary, England, 1720-1780

This earthenware jar was used to store cinchona bark. Cinchona was used to prevent heavy bleeding and diarrhoea but is better known as a source of quinine. The active ingredient of cinchona bark, quinine was used for pain relief and to prevent fevers but was primarily a treatment for malaria. 

The jar is painted with the figures of the Christian Apostles (the twelve original followers of Jesus) and is believed to be from the Castelli region of Italy.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: Castelli, Teramo, Abruzzi, Italy

Drug jar for cinchona bark, Italy, 1701-1730

The abbreviated Italian inscription Sciroppo Rosato Solutivo translates into English as “Laxative Syrup of Roses”. The syrup was made by heating 5 lb (2.6 kg) of pale roses and 4 lb (2.6 kg) of sugar to treat fevers and purge bile from the body – it acted as a laxative. The mixture was probably taken as a drink or by the spoonful and would have been very sweet.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: Faenza, Ravenna province, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Syrup jar for Syrup of Roses, Faenza, Italy, 1571-1600

The inscription painted on this earthenware jar is a shortened form of the Latin phrase Conserva di Rose Alessandrino, which translates as “Conserve of Alexandrian Roses”. The petals of these roses would have first been pounded in a mortar along with sugar. Once a jam-like product had been formed, the treatment would be taken orally, acting as a strong laxative. The vase is decorated with the figure of a soldier in Italian armour and dress.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: Venice, Venezia, Veneto, Italy

The Gothic lettering on the jar says Diacatholicon – Latin for “the Universal Electuary”. An electuary is a thick sticky liquid medicine and this treatment was so called because it was supposed to purge all the humours equally. Purging was believed to be one way to equalise the balance of the humours in patients and so restore them to health. 

Made from a blend of boiled ingredients, including rhubarb, violets, gourds, melons with liquorice, and sugar with crushed powder of cassia (similar to cinnamon), the treatment was also used for gout and arthritis.

maker: Unknown maker

Place made: Liguria, Italy

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Drug jar

Images

Works

Drug jar for Water Germander electuary, England, 1720-1780

Drug jar for cinchona bark, Italy, 1701-1730

Syrup jar for Syrup of Roses, Faenza, Italy, 1571-1600

Drug jar for Conserve of Alexandrian Roses, Venice, Italy, 1

Albarello drug jar for the Universal Electuary, Italy, 1601-

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Wellcome uses cookies.

Drug jar

Images

Works

Drug jar for Water Germander electuary, England, 1720-1780

Drug jar for cinchona bark, Italy, 1701-1730

Syrup jar for Syrup of Roses, Faenza, Italy, 1571-1600

Drug jar for Conserve of Alexandrian Roses, Venice, Italy, 1

Albarello drug jar for the Universal Electuary, Italy, 1601-

Wellcome Collection

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