PAIR of POTS at PHARMACY or ALBARELLO
Gerace, Calabria region, Italy
17th century
Earthenware
H.: 30; Diam.: 20 cm
(slight accident)

These medicine jars, called albarelli, are made of majolica in the shape of an albarella: cylindrical and with a shoulder at the level of the collar with a bead – allowing a ligature to be attached and the container to be closed. The bellies are each decorated with a medallion portrait in the bust on a radiant yellow background and polychrome foliage and flower scrolls on a blue background. The portrait of a woman seen from her right profile is surrounded by a blue frieze of stylized flowers. The bottoms of the two containers are blue

Albarelli were prized by apothecaries and pharmacies, who stored ointments, medicinal plants and other powders in them thanks to the non-porous properties of these containers.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

Ref.: 5236