Antique English delftware apothecary pill slab. Liverpool circa 1740

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£8500

Dated: 1740 Liverpool England

A Liverpool delftware pill slab, painted in blue with the amorial arms of THE WORSHIPFUL SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES and their motto "Opiferque Per Orbem Dicor" decorated in manganese.This part Latin quotation from Ovid referring to the Greek deity Apollo, meaning: "and throughout the world I am called the bringer of help". The full quotation, from the first book of Metamorphoses (Daphne and Apollo), puts the motto in context and makes it particularly relevant to apothecaries. The back of the slab has wear in the centre where the pills were made, an interesting historical feature denoting that the piece was actually in use and not adopted merely as a decorative item as is often the case.

Dimensions: 10.5 inches high

Current Condition: Fine condition with minor glaze losses around the rim.

Literature: Jonathan Horne Exhibition catalogue 2002 reference 02/11 for a similar example.

£8500    $11475

Description

A Liverpool delftware pill slab, painted in blue with the amorial arms of THE WORSHIPFUL SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES and their motto “Opiferque Per Orbem Dicor” decorated in manganese.This part Latin quotation from Ovid referring to the Greek deity Apollo, meaning: “and throughout the world I am called the bringer of help”. The full quotation, from the first book of Metamorphoses (Daphne and Apollo), puts the motto in context and makes it particularly relevant to apothecaries.
The back of the slab has wear in the centre where the pills were made, an interesting historical feature denoting that the piece was actually in use and not adopted merely as a decorative item as is often the case.

Additional information

Dimensions 10.5 in