Drug Jars

Dateabout 1815-1830

MediumMold-formed porcelain with gilding and overglaze purple and black enamel

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height including lid x diameter .1a,b): 12 x 4 5/8in. (30.5 x 11.7cm)
Primary Dimensions (height including lid x diameter .2a,b-.4a,b): 8 3/4 x 3 5/8in. (22.2 x 9.2cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour

DescriptionGroup of four cylindrical, porcelain lidded drug jars with gilding and hand-painted purple and black enamel. One drug jar (.1) is larger than the others. Each drug jar is decorated with a circular, wreath-shaped, gilded motif in the Empire, or late classical revival, style popular in the early part of the nineteenth century. The primary decoration on each jar (.a) is a circular, or heart-shaped, area composed of a wreath. Gilded leaves and circular flowers on a vine form the wreath, with a purple enamel bow below. Above the wreath is a shallow purple enamel and gilt urn with two gilded snakes, or Empire-style dolphins, peering into each urn. Inside the circular area, each jar has a different Latin abbreviation, as follows: jar .1, "UNG:/ HYDRARG:"; jar .2, "CERAT:/ SIMPLEX."; jar .3, "CERAT:/ RESINAE."; and jar .4, "CONF:/ AURANT: C:". Each abbreviation is hand-written in black enamel. There is a band of gilding below the rim, and two bands of gilding at the foot of each jar. Each jar also has a tall lid (.b) with a round finial at the top. The top of the finial is gilded, with an additional band of gilding below the base of the finial, and at the rim of each lid. The gilding on the jars and lids has worn slightly, while the gilding on the finials has worn more. The remnants of an unknown brown substance have adhered in a few small spots to the rim of one lid (.4b).

Object number1945.1.1394.1a,b-.4a,b

MarkingsThe following numbers are hand-written in black enamel on the bottom of the drug jars: jar .1 has "36"; jar .2 has "2."; jar .3 has "3."; and jar .4 has "10."NotesSubject note: The Latin phrases found in the center of each shield are most likely abbreviations for the chemical compounds that were contained in each jar. (Hunt 11/29/2004)

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