Ceramic Apothecary Pots

Apothecary shelves in the museum at Issoudun.

It is rare, even today, for an old long established French pharmacy not to have a few brightly coloured ceramic pots, from the days when they were an apothecary. Their round forms are entirely covered with hand painted floral decorations and mysterious gothic inscriptions. These days they have lost their practical function and have become decorators and collectors items of some worth. Ceramicists and medical professionals worked together to create pots suitable to contain valuable herbal mixtures such as Theriaca (for snake bite) or Egyptian unguent. 

Apothecary cabinet at the Chateau de Chenonceau.

This type of pottery arrived in Europe in the 7th to 14th centuries, with the Moorish and Arab invasions. The pots were valued for their decorative qualities and their durability.

The Apothecary at the Chateau de Chenonceau.

The tin glazed (aka maiolica or, in French, faience) earthenware pots are known as albarelli, or gallipots, and were used between the 15th and 17th centuries in France. A fine collection of albarelli inspired confidence in the professional capabilities of the apothecary. The jars were sealed with parchment or leather tied on with string. Typically albarelli are cylindrical with a narrow collar at the top, which allows them to be easily gripped even they don't have handles. Other shapes are also widely used, adapted to purpose and contents.

Albarelli for tobacco, a medicinal product in the 16th century, at the Chateau de Chenonceau.

To see collections of 16th century apothecary pots in the Touraine and Berry I recommend visiting the Chateau de Chenonceau and the Musée de l'Hospice Saint-Roch in Issoudun.

 

 Apothecary shelves in the museum at Issoudun.