Large quantities of Hispano-Moresque blue and gold lusterware were imported into the Tuscany region of Italy during the 14th and 15th centuries from Valencia and Barcelona. (See previous 'Alhambra Vase' for example.) Included among these imports were Albarelli (apothecary or pharmacy jars) of Islamic origin. In inventories of the time, they are referred to as 'Albareghi Damaschini,' or albarelli from Damascus. The albarello was a form used by apothecaries to store dried medicinal drugs, potions, lotions, and cooking herbs. Lined up along a shelf, with cloth covers tied about their rims, the druggist could slip his hands between the tightly stacked jars, and lift down the one needed to prepare a 'prescription.' The slightly sloping sides of the jars allowed a small space between jars for this purpose.
This albarello is painted with a design of leaves, using cobalt for the deep blues and antimony for the yellows. These oxides were painted onto the unfired glaze surface, and during the firing process, the colors would melt into the glaze (and hopefully not run). The yellow colors were originally intended to imitate the golden luster painting on the Hispano-Moresque lusterware, a technique not yet duplicated by the Italian potters. The brown earthenware clay (terra cotta) can be seen at the foot of the albarello. The tin oxide based, opaque glaze covers the rest of the piece. The Italian potters called this simple glaze bianchi, which appropriately means, white. After the glaze was applied, and before it was fired, the cobalt blue leaves were painted onto the glaze. Next, using a pointed tool, the veins in the leaves were drawn through the cobalt to reveal the white glaze below (a form of glaze sgraffito) and the circular bands of blue and yellow were painted by holding a brush steady while the piece was rotated on a wheel. The antimony yellow was a poor substitute for the vivid gold lusters they were trying to imitate, but until the secret of luster application and firing was discovered, it was the best they could do.
Albarello (pharmacy jar), Earthenware with Majolica glazing
Firenze (Florence), Italy, 1450 CE, 18"ht.
