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Title(s):

Dry drug jar.

Additional Title(s):

Diascordiv[m]

Diascordiu[m]

Published/Created:
Lambeth, London, England, between 1665 and 1680.
Physical Description:
1 jar : white delftware ; 21 cm high x 14 cm in diameter
Holdings:
Rare Books and Manuscripts
Spencer Jar 4
Yale Center for British Art, Gift of James N. Spencer and Kathleen Moretto Spencer
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Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Full Orbis Record:
http://hdl.handle.net/10079/bibid/15768122
Classification:
Three-Dimensional Artifacts
Notes:
The inscription means "electuarium diascordium" or "electuary of scordium."
The forumla is traced back to Frascatorius in the 1500s, and this electuary takes its name from scordium, the water germander (i.e. Yeucrium scordium). It is mixed with Armenian bole, Lemnian earth, cinnamon, cassia bark, dittany, tormentil, bisort, galbanum, gum Arabic, gentian, sorrel, long pepper, ginger, storax, a small amount of opium, wine, honey, and sugar of roses to make an electuary. The electuary was said to cause constipation and was said to be used as a remedy against plague. A later formula was reduced to scordium, opium, and syrup of meconium. See Harrod, in Lipsky & Archer, p. 397.
Title from Spencer.
Spencer, K. M. James N. Spencer Collection of English Delftware Apothecary Jars, 4
The apothecary jar is ovoid, tapering slightly towards the splayed base. One side is painted in blue with a strapwork cartouche enclosing a label painted straight. Cartouche is surmounted by a formal motif and flanked by a flower or tassel hanging upwards and a fleur-de-lis below having tassel and festoons beneath. Neck ridged with glazed rim, very slightly concave on the underside. The design includes a fleur-de-lis with tassels up and down at ends of cartouche, as well as a fishtail and cross of pellets swags. See Spencer Collection.
Form/Genre:
Delftware
Drug jars
Ceramic (material)
Tin glaze
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