Albarello drug jar, Italy, 1790

Made:
1790 in Italy
maker:
Pietro Sestito
SMG00227572 Albarell vase, Italian, 1790, perhaps from Castelli

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

SMG00227572
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Albarell vase, Italian, 1790, perhaps from Castelli
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Albarell vase, Italian, 1790, Southern Italy, signed and dated, blue and white maiolica

The Latin inscription painted on to the side of the drug jar is believed to give the name of its maker “Master Pietro Sestito” and the date “1790”. It is quite possible that the jar was made by a young apprentice who was learning how to make ceramics. The shape and size of the jar is similar to others from Southern Italy.

Albarello vases, with their characteristic hourglass shape and multicoloured decoration, originated in Persia. This shape was developed so that many jars could be put on one shelf, yet each still be safely removed by grasping it around the middle.

Details

Category:
Medical Ceramic-ware
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A42645
Materials:
whole, earthenware (tin-glazed), blue and white
Measurements:
overall: 195 mm 142 mm, 1.1kg
type:
drug jar
credit:
Clarens, G.