Apothecaries- Who were they?
Apothecaries were chemists who mixed and sold their own treatments. From the Medieval period onwards, they were part of a medical system in Europe which consisted of surgeons, physicians and apothecaries. They learned about medicine during their training and used handbooks (materia medica) to keep themselves informed. They sold their ware from a shop front which would have been designed to attract customers, hence the brightly coloured jars.
What were the jars used for?
Apothecaries (pharmacists) used these vessels to store ointments, oils, syrup or medicated waters. It is important to note that the apothecary would have taken a small amount of the ingredient they required from each jar to make up the required prescription- the jars did not necessarily contain the precise treatment customers required.
In fact, we know exactly what was stored in some of the jars as they have been labelled. Pharmacy jars in the Hunt Collection have labels including “dia galauga” or “galanga” (meaning treatment for sea-sickness) and “Comm” meaning dry or powdered cumin. One pair of vessels has the words “Thamarin” meaning tamarind, and “Ung De Thutia”, meaning an ointment containing zinc oxide.
Tamarind is a tropical fruit which grows on a tree native to Africa, but can also be found in other tropical regions such as India. When the pods from the fruit ripen, they form a pulp which is used to create a paste or puree. This provides a rich source of antioxidants, some of which help to protect the liver.
Regarding the vessel with the seahorse handles, we cannot say for certain exactly what would have been inside it as there is no label. However, we can see that there is a small blue spout on the front. Therefore, we can surmise that it must have been used to store liquid. It is highly possible that the seahorse handles also hint at what the vessel contained; being sea creatures, medicated waters may well have been inside the vessel.
Maiolica Pharmacy Jar/ceramic, Pottery, Earthenware (tin-glazed)/16th century AD/The Hunt Collection/ PD
Drug jar/ceramic, Pottery, Earthenware/ 18th or 19th century AD/ The Hunt Collection/ PD
Drug jar/ceramic, Pottery, Earthenware/ 18th or 19th century AD/ The Hunt Collection/ PD
How were they made?
Maiolica was used to make a wide variety of objects including dishes, bowls and jugs. It was also used to create sculptures and tiles. It became popular during the Renaissance as it was a means of extending what the period was known for to people’s homes- visual art. However, maiolica products were still relatively exclusive as tin (a material used to make maiolica) was expensive to import.
To make the jars, the clay was first shaped by mold or wheel and then dipped into a lead-based glaze mixed with tin. The tin created maiolica’s distinctive white, opaque glaze. Then, a second , clear glaze was applied, resulting in a shiny surface. This second glaze also made the colorful decoration appear even more vibrant.
As previously mentioned, the jars were brightly coloured to attract customers. However, for important commissions the designs would have incorporated particular arms, insignia or symbols. For instance, one vessel bears the arms of the Order of St Francis. Another bears the letters IHS with a cross and three nails surrounded by straight and wavy lines. Around this there is the inscription Societas Iesu [Society of Jesus]. It is possible that this was part of a group of jars made for a Jesuit pharmacy at Novellara, in the Reggio Emilia region in Italy.
Maiolica Pharmacy Jar/ceramic, Pottery, Earthenware (tin-glazed)/16th century AD/The Hunt Collection/ PD
Maiolica drug-jar/ceramic, Glazed Composition, Maiolica/ 16th century AD/ The Hunt Collection /PD
Maiolica drug-jar/ceramic, Glazed Composition, Maiolica/ 16th century AD/ The Hunt Collection /PD
Sources
Chapman, Mary. Jars of “Art and Mystery”: Pharmacists and their Tools in the Mid-Nineteenth Century. https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/exhibits/show/apothecary-jars
Lambert, Nora S. “Clay, Color and Fire: The Art of Maiolica”.
https://www.artic.edu/articles/983/clay-color-and-fire-the-art-of-maiolica
McNab, Jessie. “Maiolica in the Renaissance.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/maio/hd_maio.htm (October 2002)
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-6-health-benefits-of-tamarind
