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Pharmacy ewer: C.78-1927

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An image of Pharmacy ewer
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An image of Pharmacy ewer
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Pale yellowish-white on the exterior and more thinly on the interior where it is discoloured and bubbly near the rim. On the exterior the glaze does not extend to the base for about three-quarters of the circumference; base unglazed. A piece from another vessel has adhered to the side during firing. Painted in dark blue with touches of bright yellow.
Bulbous body, with short sloping spout rising from the shoulder, cylindrical neck with projecting rim, and strap handle.
Beneath the handle there is a label inscribed in gothic script `S. d. absino' (syropo di absintio). With the exception of a roughly circular area round the spout, the body is decorated with horizontal bands of stylised foliage and circular flowers, separated by horizontal lines. The flowers on the shoulder have yellow centres. On the handle is a vertical spray composed of a flower flanked by foliage. Round the spout there are three radiating lines of S-hooks and two inverted Ys.

Notes

History note: Alessandro Imbert; Galleria Sangiorgi, Rome, from which purchased in 1919 by F. Leverton Harris.

Legal notes

F. Leverton Harris Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 28 cm
Width: 25.3 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1926) by Harris, F. Leverton, The Right Hon.

Dating

16th Century
Renaissance
Circa 1550 - 1600

Note

Probably central Italy

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colours ( dark blue with touches of bright yellow) tin-glaze
Base Diameter 12.6 cm
Rim Diameter 13.3 cm
Body

Materials used in production

Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: circular

  • Text: 'COLLECTION A. IMBERT ROME' with 'No' in the middle and '595' in black ink
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Printed in blue round the edge
  • Type: Label

Inscription present: three museum labels

  • Location: On base
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.78-1927
Primary reference Number: 48293

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 29 April 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Pharmacy ewer" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/48293 Accessed: 2025-12-06 19:03:37

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/48293 |title=Pharmacy ewer |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 19:03:37|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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