Details

COLEM:1986.65.4378

Colchester Collections

Drug jar, 1600's, inscribed DIA.MAR.CARI.CAL. The inscription probably means 'Heating Species of Pearls.' Species, in this instance, being a type of powder. This jar was made in the 1600s and would have contained medicine, dispensed by a local apothecary, similar to a modern-day pharmacist. This ceramic jar, with its white, blue and yellow decoration is of a style known as Delftware, and it is likely that it was made in the Netherlands. The number of these 'drug jars' found in Colchester, suggest a large number of apothecaries operating in the town centre. Many of the jars were excavated from Lion Walk where it is thought they were dumped as 'rubbish' from the apothecaries on the High Street next to the Red Lion Inn.

Netherlands

1600 - 1699

Post-Medieval, 17th Century

DIA.MAR.CARI.CAL

ceramic, earthenware, tin glaze

height: 98.00 mm
diameter: 88.00 mm