Description:
Barrel-shaped delft ointment pot with an everted rim, slightly flared side, and waisted foot, decorated the initials "V. F" in blue on the side, which Jonathan Horne (during a visit on 1/23/1995) believes to be 19th century. According to R.J. Houghton and M. R. Priestley, eds., in "Historical Guide to Delftware and Victorian Ointment Pots," a similar example to this pot with the initials "V.F" was excavated on the "Pesthouse" rubbish dump in Richmond, Surrey in 2001, which they suggest is possibly French due to its style of lettering. Ointment pots, which varied in size and shape, dispensed sticky or semi-liquid preparations sold by apothecaries, grocers, perfumers, etc., who often had their names and sometimes addresses inscribed on them when they ordered them in quantity from delftware factories. These pots are normally bowl-shaped with an everted rim, which could be covered with parchment secured with a string tied around the indentation below the rim. Around 1800, these delft pots were replaced with glass containers, cardboard-lined boxes, and chip boxes made of handcut wood shavings. Pots with the initials VF are French tin glazed (technically called 'Faience') ophthalmic eye ointment pots. The 'VF' are the initials for Veuve Farnier, the widow Farnier, who had a family chemist shop in the town of Theviers, France. They can date from around 1800 to about 1850. The eye ointment of the widow Farnier, was created in 1764. The maiden name of the widow was Theulier. This ointment was produced and distributed by the family. In the nineteenth century, Dr. Jules Theulier was nicknamed "a physician of the poor" for his charity and kindness, and in recognition of his work, a street in Theviers bears his name. The very early pots bear hand painted initials, and after that, they were stenciled.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+54.054 |
