Small albarello drug jar for spermaceti, Barcelona, Spain, 1801-1830

Made:
1801-1830 in Italy and Barcelona
Small albarello, tin glazed earthenware SMG00231747

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a 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 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

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

License

Small albarello, tin glazed earthenware
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

SMG00231747
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Small albarello, tin glazed earthenware, used for spermaceti cream, Barcelona, Spain, 1801-1830

Spermaceti is the oily substance from the head of a sperm whale. It was once used in large amounts as the base in medicinal ointments as well as cosmetics and moisturisers. A full-grown sperm whale may yield one tonne of spermaceti. However, because it is difficult to obtain the oil is very expensive. The jar used to store the oil is thought to be from Italy.