Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Ceramic Apothecary Jar w/ Lid, c. 1960 |
Object Name |
Jar, Apothecary |
Description |
Ceramic Apothecary Jar, c.1960, white porcelain cylinder jar, slightly larger on the bottom, decorated in the front center with small purple flowers and green leaves and an ornate gold-colored leaves hem with the words "FOL. BELLAD." (Folia Belladonna) printed in black in the center, wide mouth with gold-colored rim, and a gold-colored band on the bottom. The white porcelain rotund lid has a gold-colored metal ring on the center and on the top. Used at Ryan Pharmacy in Redwood City. |
Date |
c. 1960 |
Creator |
Unknown |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2019.117.012A-B |
Dimensions |
H-7.5 W-4 D-4 inches |
Collection |
3D - Merchandising Tools & Equipment |
Inscription Text |
"FOL. BELLAD." (Printed in black in the front center of the jar) |
Provenance |
Used at Ryan Pharmacy in Redwood City. |
Notes |
"Apothecaries existed in Colonial America (as a profession defined by the possession of a shop purely devoted to the sale of drugs), but they also practiced patient care like a physician might, and sold toiletries like a shopkeeper. There was little to no regulation in practice, and there was no expectation or requirement that the drugseller be educated. Unlike in Britain and France, the medical practitioner was free to practice which parts of the profession he chose, and to call himself what he liked...Apothecaries would have learned about these medicines during their training and used materia medica (handbooks of drugs and their therapeutic properties) to discover more about the illnesses they were used to treat." - Fleurty Herald https://fleurtyherald.wordpress.com/2020/12/29/18th-century-apothecaries/ "Belladonnæ Radix, commonly known as Belladonna Root, it is the root of the plant Atropa Belladonna. It belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceæ and is collected in the autumn and dried. The leaves (folia) are also used medicinally. The name Belladonna is an Italian word meaning 'beautiful woman'. Historically belladonna was used in eye drops by Italian women to make their pupils appear bigger, which was considered more attractive. The parts of belladonna that are used are the roots, leaves and tops. Belladonna is extremely poisonous. The name Atropa derives from the Greek word Atropos refering to one of the Fates who held the shears to cut the thread of human life. Synonyms - Deadly Nightshade, Atropa Belladonna, Devil's Herb Habitat – Southwest Asia, Central and Southern Europe; in the past it was largely imported from Germany and Austria. Cultivated in England, France and North America. Uses – A powerful mydriatic (eye-pupil dilating) making it particularly effective in the treatment of eye diseases. It is used as a sedative, diuretic (increases the flow of urine), antihydrotic (prevents sweating) and anti-inflammatory. Belladonna specifically affects the brain and the bladder. Belladonna is a widely known for its fatal character. This is due to the active chemicals atropine and scopolamine. Atropine is an alkaloid which when ingested creates symptoms of poisoning." -Worcester Medical Museums https://medicalmuseum.org.uk/belladonna |
Search Terms |
Drug Stores Pharmeceutical Ryan Pharmacy, Redwood City |
Subjects |
Drugstores Pharmacists |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Kathleen Ryan |