French Faience Apothecary Jar — P. de ALOE Albarello, Original Cork, circa 18th–19th C

A genuine piece of pharmacy history — this hand-painted French faience albarello, inscribed P. de ALOE and sealed with its original cork, speaks directly to the long tradition of European apothecary craft, where beauty and function were inseparable.

OBJECT DETAILS An ideal piece for interior designers sourcing authentic antique apothecary or curiosity cabinet objects, for collectors of French faience, or for film and TV prop buyers seeking a period-accurate pharmacy or cabinet of curiosities piece. This is a French faience apothecary bottle / albarello of the traditional flattened pilgrim flask form, with two small loop handles at the shoulders. The body is hand-painted in cobalt blue, burnt orange and sage green on a white tin-glazed ground, with bold foliate and acanthus scroll decoration surrounding the central cartouche inscribed P. de ALOE — Pulpa de Aloe, a traditional pharmaceutical preparation. The neck is decorated with blue and orange banded stripes and retains its original cork stopper, which shows a light pale blue-white patina consistent with age. A small manufacturing irregularity is present at the neck where the glaze meets the cork — characteristic of hand-thrown faience production and not a defect. A small maker's mark in blue is present on the base. Style: French faience, apothecary / pharmacy. Material: tin-glazed earthenware. Era: circa 18th–19th century. Origin: France. Maker: unknown, workshop mark present on base.

DIMENSIONS H 24cm × W 17cm (H 9.4" × W 6.7")

CONDITION REPORT In very good antique condition, consistent with age and use. Tin glaze intact throughout with no visible cracks, chips or restoration. Hand-painted decoration vivid and well-preserved. Original cork stopper present and in excellent condition, with characteristic pale blue-white age patina. Minor manufacturing irregularity to the glaze at the neck — present from production, not damage. Unglazed foot ring shows natural age darkening consistent with an antique piece. Photographs form part of this description. Please review all images carefully as they document the piece's condition in full detail.

CURATOR'S NOTE Selected for its rarity and completeness — an albarello of this quality, with its original cork intact, is increasingly difficult to find. The P. de ALOE inscription connects this piece to a centuries-old tradition of European pharmacy, when apothecaries commissioned hand-painted ceramic vessels as much for their beauty as their function. A piece equally at home in a collector's cabinet, a library, or as a striking singular object on a shelf.