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Science Museum Group
From left to right: A112513, Italian pharmacy vase
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Italian pharmacy vase, early C19 polychrome maiolica, perhaps Ligurian, inscribed 'PIL:BALS:MORT:' used for Morton's Balsamic Pills
On the far right is a jar for Morton’s Balsamic Pills. These were prepared us-ing crushed woodlice, flowers and spices before being pressed into pills and coated with gold leaf. The pills were used to treat consumption and the ‘King’s Evil’ (now called scrofula). Scrofula was said to be cured by the touch of a monarch, but clearly a little something extra was needed. The recipe is named after Richard Morton (active 1637-1698), who was an English cleric turned physician. The jar, one of four shown here, was presented as a gift to the Wellcome collection on the previous owner’s death in 1932.
Details
- Category:
- Medical Ceramic-ware
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A112514
- Measurements:
-
overall: 174 mm 104 mm, .38kg
- type:
- dispensing pot
- credit:
- Canney, V.
