Treasures of the Renaissance from the Antony Embden Collection
Treasures of the Renaissance from the Antony Embden Collection
Nîmes, Antoine Syjalon’s factory, circa 1575
A French faience apothecary jar | Pot d'apothicaire en faïence
Lot Closed
June 15, 11:01 AM GMT
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 EUR
Lot Details
Description
Nîmes, Antoine Syjalon’s factory, circa 1575
A French faience apothecary jar
The cylindrical body painted with a half-length portrait of King Joas, titled De:Ioas:Roy DIRAels, on a ground decorated in the Italian Grotesche and a foglie styles, named for Defiatat Rub
H. 26 cm, 10¼ in.
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Nîmes, Manufacture d'Antoine Sujalon, vers 1575
Pot d'apothicaire en faïence
La panse ornée d'un portrait du roi Joas, inscrit De:Ioas:Roy DIRAels, sur un fond de grotesques et de feuillages à l'italienne et intitulé Defiatat Rub
H. 26 cm, 10¼ in.
R. E.A. Drey, Apothecary Jars, London, 1978, pp. 84-86, and pls. 39A-D.
Most probably made to contain unguentumRubrum desiccativum, an ointment made from lead oxide, lead carbonate, calamine, Armenian bole and other ingredients including camphor used to promote the healing of wounds, in particular Kibes or chilblans.
Attributed to Nicholaus of Damascus, it was a common preparation in 16th and 17th century pharmacies. Described by Culpeper in A physical dictionary “It binds and restrains fluxes of humours and is as gallant an ointment to skin a sore as any in the Dispensatory”.
The portrait of Jehoash or Joas of Judah is from Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum published by Guillaume Rouillé in Lyon in 1553.
For a discussion of the pharmaceutic wares produced in Nîmes and Montpellier in the 16th century see Rudolf E.A. Drey, Apothecary Jars, London, 1978, pp. 84-6, and pls. 39A-D.