Lot 21

A large Nevers faience apothecary vase and cover, dated 1709

500 Years of European Ceramics

3 July 2025, 14:00 BST

London, New Bond Street

Sold for £832 inc. premium

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Sophie von der Goltz

Head of Sale

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Raphael Machiels

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Ghislaine Howard

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A large Nevers faience apothecary vase and cover, dated 1709

Painted in blue outlined in dark manganese with two entwined snakes enclosing the drug label "THERIAVA/ Androm./ 1709" heightened in cold gilding, surrounded by flower sprigs, birds and insects, the reverse with a similar snake cartouche enclosing birds, insects and a large flower spray, all between line borders with pendent foliate scrollwork motifs, the footrim with four oval panels painted with a snake against on a blue-ground band reserved with foliage and scrollwork, the domed cover similarly decorated with a ball finial, 56.5cm high (finial restuck, restored flat chip to one side) (2)

Footnotes

Theriaca was an electuary reputedly introduced into medical practice by Nicander of Colophon, a Greek poet and priest of Apollo, in the second century B.C. as an antidote against poisons, especially snake bite. Theriac of Andromachus contained seventy-three ingredients, the most important of which was the flesh of vipers (R. Drey, Apothecary Jars, 1978, p. 234).

Additional information

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