Pharmacy Jar (Albarello)
Unknown Artist
c. 1510
Medium
tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)
Dimensions
h. 22.6 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of the Twentieth Century Club
Accession Number
1965.553
About this artwork
Storage jars that lined the shelves of Renaissance pharmacies often held medicinal herbs, spices, and ointments. Their shape made them easy to grasp while the flared lip allowed apothecaries to seal off the contents with parchment or cloth secured by a string. This particular storage jar depicts a child riding a wild boar.