Description:
English delft dry drug jar with a blue cartouche with a straight panel labeled "E : DIASCORD," which was found in Garner, Mass The pot held an electuary ("E" on label) of "Electuarium Diascordium" made from water germander ("Teucrium scordium"), which dates from the early 16th century, probably developed by Girolamo Fracastoro, when it was considered an important plague remedy. An electuary was a medicinal preparation of honey-like consistency made by mixing powdered herbs or other drugs with an aromatic, sweetening agent. The formula for "Diascordium", found in the "London Pharmacopoeia" of 1618, contained 17 ingredients, including cinnamon, cassia, galbanum, opium, gentian, sorrel, ginger, gum arabic, Lemmian earth, and Canary wine. By 1700, the electuary included .13% opium, and became popular as an opiate, astringent, deobstruent, and diuretic. "Grey's Supplement to the Pharmacopia" states: "This electuary, which was formerely in high regard as an anti-pestilential, has been replaced by Electuarium cetechu." The scrolled-edge cartouche is decorated with the churub design, the most common decoration on 18th century delft drug jars. The top center shell is flanked by two tall flower sprays, and a winged churub in each top corner looking over its shoulder and holding a floral spray. The center bottom edge has a small cherub's head holding a pendant tassel from its mouth, folded wings, and swags with a large center flower and vines. The baluster-shaped jar has an everted rim used to hold the tied-on parchment cover, over an incurving neck, broad shoulders tapering down to a flat, circular base with an incurving foot. There is a "g" shaped mark on the base; these marks were used to distinguish the work of individual painters within the factory, perhaps to count their production.
Subjects:
Pottery; glaze (coating by location) Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+91.239 |
