16c Drug jar. Probably Pesaro or possibly the Kingdom of Naples, late
fifteenth century. Tin-glazed earthenware, H: 31.7 cm (12/2 in.).
Sevres, Musee National de Ceramique a Sevres, inv. 25141.
Photo: © Reunion des Musees Nationaux.1 6D Drug jar. Probably Pesaro or possibly the Kingdom of
Naples, late fifteenth century. Tin-glazed earthenware.
Formerly in the Girasole collection, Naples, illustrated in
J. Chompret, Repertoire de la majolique italienne (Paris,
1949), vol. 2, fig. 370 on p. 49.However, they also share the distinct Gothic floral
scroll decoration and slender jar form with a preponder
ance of Neapolitan albarelli (that is, from the Kingdom
of Naples). The attribution of these jars is based on their
distinguishing marks: they bear Neapolitan arms, the
mark of a local hospital, or are inscribed either with the
name of a prominent Sicilian potter from Sciacca or
with a motto in Sicilian dialect.^6 In addition, a number
of similarly painted and formed albarelli include profile
busts in reserve that one scholar has convincingly pro
posed are Neapolitan, given the resemblance of the pro
files to contemporary depictions of Neapolitan nobles.^7
It must be noted, however, that, in general, the painted
decoration on these south Italian jars appears markedly
less sophisticated than that on the present jar and on
Pesarese examples.^8
The attribution of a dozen other comparable tall
jars with Gothic floral decoration, although traditionallydescribed as Faentine, should be seriously reconsidered.
These include a jar that sold at auction in 1990;^9 two
in the Lehman collection, Metropolitan Museum of
Art, New York,^10 one in the National Gallery of Art,
Washington, D.C.;^11 one in the State Hermitage Mu
seum, Saint Petersburg (inv. F 1593);^12 one in the Musee
du Louvre, Paris (inv. OA 5971);^13 two formerly in the
Robert Strauss collection, England;^14 one formerly in the
Fernandez collection,-^15 and three formerly in the Bak
collection, New York.^16
Although of limited use in determining the place of
production, the Gothic-floral design does serve to date
this work to the second half of the fifteenth century
(see also nos. 12-13). The function of these drug jars is
reflected in their form: the waisted shape provided a good
grasp for removing the jar from a shelf and for pouring,
and the flanged lip on its tall neck secured the string that
held a parchment or leather cover in place (fig. 1 6E).94 Drug Jar for Syrup of Lemon Juice