A late 17th Century dry drug jar, probably Lambeth, painted with a cherubim, its wings outstretched above a curved label inscribed LINIMENT: ARC, above I.G, the ends terminating in 'crab claws', circa 1670, height 21cm A comparable jar is in the collection of the Royal College of Surgeons England, illustrated in Apothecary Jars, Rudolf E.A. Drey, 1978, pl. 68A The contents were an ointment arcaei, made from gum elimi, lard and turpentine. For an explanation of I.G see lot 36 Drug jars with the ends of the ribbon label resembling crabs' claws were so named because of their undoubted resemblance thereto, however, there could be another reason. According to Culpeper, Pond Weed, Knight's Pond Water and other pseudonyms including Crab's (sic) Claws 'which grow plentifully in the Fens in Lincolnshire' was a 'great strengthener of the reins, is good for the inflammation of St Anthony's Fire and is a remedy to 'stop the terms.'' Provenance - Purchased at Sotheby's Belgravia, Lot 236 on 18 January 1972 (one of two)

Ask a specialist

Ally White
Auctioneer & Valuer

Contact & bio