Maiolica pharmacy jar

Description

A maiolica jar with a pair of applied, ornate handles in the shape of sea-horses and a short spout. The body of the jar bears the arms of the Order of St Francis (Franciscans) surrounded by fruit and floral decoration. The reverse is decorated with stylized pinecones, a form of the Persian palmette. The jar may have contained syrup, oil or medicated waters.

Object data

Accession number

HCM 293

Date made

16th century AD

Materials

Ceramic; Earthenware (tin-glazed); Pottery

Collection

Dimensions (cm)

Provenance

File of material relating to an Italian maiolica pharmacy jar. Includes photocopy of object description sheet which includes sketch of object (date unspecified); photocopy of extract from exhibition catalogue for 'Art Treasures in Thomond' held at Limerick Art Gallery (Limerick: Limerick Leader, 1952) which comprises description of object; printout from database (date unspecified) which describes object; two Hunt Museum object comment sheets (dates unspecified) which contain comments made about object by Timothy Wilson. Dates object to 1560-80 and states it is possibly from Montelupo, near Florence. Notes that it bears the arms of the Franciscan order and that there is a similar object in the National Museum of Scotland; photocopy of extract from publication by Celia Curnow entitled 'Italian Maiolica in the National Museums of Scotland' (National Museums of Scotland, 1992); photocopy of cover from publication by James Culhane and Roisin de Nais entitled 'Monsignor Michael Moloney: his life and work' and 'Published Work of the late Monsignor Michael Moloney' (reprinted from 'North Munster Studies: Essays in Commemoration of Monsignor Michael Moloney,' Limerick, 1967). On cover is image of Moloney examining an object, which if it is not present object, is very similar to it; photocopy of extract from unidentified publication (date unspecified) which comprises map of Renaissance Italy identifying principal towns and maiolica centres as well explanation of etymology of word maiolica; photocopy of extract from a Sothebys catalogue of sale (c. 23-24 June 1981) containing image and description of similar object; photocopy of extract from publication, 'Catalogue De La Collection Pisa' (c. 1937) which contains image of similar Montelupo drug jars; photocopy of extract from typescript notes (date unspecified) which describe a 'Montelupo product.' Possibly refers to present object. It reads, 'This is a nice, grand Montelupo product and I suppose, 1560, 1570 or 1580 with nice Sea-horse handles. I think there's nothing maritime about it. This particular one doesn't happen to have a Drug name but I presume it's for a pharmacy rather than general storage use'; photocopy of extract from publication in French. Entitled 'Armoiries et emblemes d'ordres religieux sur les vases de pharmacie' (volume XXV, number 236, March 1978) and is part of the 'Revue d'Histoire de la Pharmacie: Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire de la Pharmacie.' Extract contains image of pharmacy jars and explanations of the emblems of religious orders. Entry for the Franciscans is highlighted; printout from database (date unspecified) which describes present object.

Copyright Attribution

Maiolica pharmacy jar | Ceramic,Pottery,Earthenware (tin-glazed) | 16th century AD | The Hunt Collection | PD

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