Description:
Drug jar painted in blue with a cartouche outlined in strapwork and surmounted by confronting peacocks over a cherub, inscribed "P. MERCURIA."

Label Text:
Dutch and English delftware vessels like this one were produced by the tens of thousands throughout the 18th century. These jars were decorated with some variation of a contents label flanked by peacocks with a basket of fruit or flowers above and a cherub below. This example held mercury pills that were used to treat various maladies, most notably, syphilis.

Tags:
pottery; containers; medicine

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+2002.3.50

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