Artheon MuseumArtheonMuseum

Drug Jar (Albarello)

Drug Jar (Albarello) by Castel Durante Potteries

Medium

Tin-glazed earthenware

Dimensions

H.: 15.6 cm (6 1/8 in.)

Classification

earthenware

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

25354

Art Historical Context

This elegant Drug Jar, known as an albarello, was crafted around 1550 by the renowned potteries of Castel Durante in Renaissance Italy. Standing just over six inches tall, the cylindrical form was designed for practical use in apothecary shops, where it stored dry herbs, powders, and medicinal compounds. Its tin-glazed earthenware surface, a hallmark of Italian maiolica, provided a smooth white ground ideal for colorful decoration, reflecting the period’s blend of utility and artistry. Castel Durante potteries were celebrated for their refined maiolica techniques, which involved applying a ti...

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