Pharmacy Jar with the Arms of the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala

Art Historical Context

This exquisite tin-glazed earthenware pharmacy jar, dating from 1425–50, hails from Renaissance Italy and bears the heraldic arms of Siena's Hospital of Santa Maria Scala—one of Europe's oldest hospitals, renowned for its charitable care and medical innovations since the 11th century. Standing at 12 5/8 x 9 3/16 x 6 1/2 inches, it once held medicinal herbs, ointments, or potions in the hospital's apothecary, a vital hub blending piety, science, and commerce during the late Middle Ages. Crafted by an unknown Italian potter, the jar exemplifies maiolica technique: earthenware coated in opaque white tin glaze, fired to create a durable, porcelain-like surface ideal for vibrant painted decoration. The prominent cross motif in the arms symbolizes the hospital's religious foundations under the Sienese Republic, underscoring how such vessels bridged art, medicine, and civic pride. Acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1916, this artifact now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art collection, offering a tangible glimpse into 15th-century healthcare and ceramic artistry.