Conserve jar
1680
Medium
earthenware
Measurements
16.3 × 13.6 cm diameter
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Sir Anthony Jephcott, 2011
Gallery location
17th Century & Flemish Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
This conserve jar would have held dry contents. Its inscription for E: DIACATHOLI CON tells us that it held a conserve of a universal purging electuary –an Electuarium diacatholicon. Such an electuary was made from a variety of herbs and spices and would have been used as a purge, usually given as an enema, and for helping ‘infirmities of the liver and spleen, gouts of all sorts … agues, and also headaches.’
Artwork Details
Inscription
painted in blue c.: . DIACATHOLI / E CON / T·W / 1680
Accession Number
2017.477
Department
International Decorative Arts