Pharmacy jar 1722

This pharmacy jar was made by the Dubois Manufactory, from earthenware and tin glaze. These were not particularly precious materials, but the firing process demanded great skill. Look closely at the jar. See how the form swells, tapers, and flares? This was achieved on a spinning potter’s wheel. Then notice the cobalt-blue decoration, carefully hand-painted. The design on the jar imitates Chinese porcelain, which was highly coveted in Europe at the time. This kind of imitation was extremely popular, but costly to produce. It involved multiple stages of design, production, and marketing. But let’s not forget the jar’s purpose: holding medicinal ingredients. This reminds us that even seemingly decorative objects have a practical function, deeply embedded in the social life of their time. So, by considering materials, making, and context, we can understand the full meaning of the Dubois Manufactory pharmacy jar.