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A Dutch delft pill jar 18th Century Circa 1720, A rare small pill jar of dumb bell form, painted in blue with a bird cartouche inscribed 'Extr;cathol' surmounted by a large basket of fruit. Cathol; short for Catholicon, which derives from the Greek word 'Katholikon', translating to 'universal.' The contents of the jar would have held what was known as a universal remedy, (usually a purge.) The 'P' denotes that the powder could be mixed with an inert powder and mixed into pills. However, the electuary, (the mixture), would have been a treacly medicine and the usual way to consume it would have been to dip a liquorice root in and suck the mixture off. Both the electuary and pills would have had a similar laxative effect, hense, the purging effect. For details of the recipe click here. 11.5cms Condition - good, usual minor wear found on Delftware. No restoration or repair GBP £1,150 Stock No; 0043 Colocynth 6 drachms Steep all the ingredients (except the last one) in alcohol in a warm place for 40 days, then strain and filter. Simultaneously steep the powdered abbot's confection in alcohol for 40 days days, then strain and filter. Mix the two extracts and distill in a glass alembic until the residue is of the consistence of honey, then add ten drops each of oil of cloves, oil of cinnamon and oil of nutmeg. Pills would be made of this extract by mixing in a relatively inert powder, and rolling the resultant mass into small balls. |
