An 18th Century Delft wet drug jar, probably London, painted with the inscription: O:VIRIDE: on a scrolled cartouche centred on a scallop flanked by two demi-angels, a cherubim beneath, circa 1730, height 20cm, A/F For a dry drug jar, but with very similar decoration and attributed to London, see English Delftware in the Bristol Collection, Frank Britton, 1982, pl. 5.4 The recipe for O:VIRIDE is simplicity itself. It is a liniment made by heating leaves of bay-laurel, rue, chamomile, marjoram and wormwood with olive oil. The mixture must then be strained to remove solids.

Ask a specialist

Will Farmer
Director

Contact & bio