Object: Dutch apothecary jar or pot; arbarello

Artist anonymous  Date ca. 1610-35

This cylindrical jar of blue-painted earthen-ware majolica, also known as arbarello and decorated with leafy tendrils and simple geometrical lines, belongs to one of the most common models of 17th-century medicinal jars. These jars were used to store and preserve crude and compounded drugs in both dry and liquid form, such as dried fruit, herbs, balms, and different medicinal ointments. The inscription DIAPRUMIS found on this jar refers to its contents: a quantity of laxative plums. Such apothecary jars were generally sealed with a piece of leather or parchment, safely tied with a string. This kind of arbarello jar certainly will have stood among the many medicinal jars and pots on the shelves of Hans Kierstede’s home apothecary at Pearl street, New Amsterdam. Plums were not only used for medicinal purposes, but also an important part of the Dutch cuisine. Detailed information about plums can be found in popular 17th-century Dutch gardening and cooking books of the period, such as Het Vermakelyck Landt-leven (Enjoyable Country Life), comprising the Nieuwe Verstandige Hovenier (New Sensible Gardener) and the Verstandige Kok (Sensible Cook). Early travel descriptions of New Netherland (Johannes de Laet; David Pietersz. De Vries), mention an abundance of plum trees, while the early settlers also took some of their own varieties from Holland to America.

Reference:

Type of object/Title: Dutch apothecary jar or pot; arbarello

Artist anonymous

Date ca. 1610-35

Object number BK-1954-48

Dimensions diameter 9.5 cm, neck and foot: height 19 cm

Physical characteristics majolica blue painted in the glaze