Wooden Drug Jars

Turned wooden drug jars with wooden lids were prevalent in central Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are generally associated with the Germanic countries but were also found in the Alsace region in France. Wooden containers were made from boxwood or linden wood and used for dried botanicals.  (Griffenhagen pg. 11)

Examples in the Bristol Myers Squibb Collection demonstrate how wooden drug jars were utilized and recycled.  The jars were painted, sometimes with shields or animals or with the name of the plant contained inside. The jars were reused by turning the jar around and repainting on them on the opposite side. Several of the jars in the BMS collection show remnants of old paint and the outlines of previous designs.

This turned wooden drug jar has been painted several times, with traces of blue, yellow, and red paint visible. One side of the container has traces of an ivory-colored, oval medallion framed by a ribbon and a gold-colored bead motif.
Description
This turned wooden drug jar has been painted several times, with traces of blue, yellow, and red paint visible. One side of the container has traces of an ivory-colored, oval medallion framed by a ribbon and a gold-colored bead motif. Within the medallion are traces of black letters. The opposite side has traces of an ivory colored shield outlined in blue and gold. Traces of red and black markings can be seen.
This container is a good example of how pharmaceutical containers were used over and over. When the contents changed from one medicinal to another, the original label was removed and another label was painted in its place.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0881
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
M-06091
collector/donor number
SAP 803
catalog number
1991.0664.0881.01
1991.0664.0881.02
This turned wooden conical drug jar and lid has remnants of red paint and is decorated with a brown cartouche.
Description
This turned wooden conical drug jar and lid has remnants of red paint and is decorated with a brown cartouche. The cartouche is painted white in the interior and is marked with a symbol for antimony and the text “PLEURITIC M.” Pleurisy root was used as an antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, and tonic. The jar contains sixty very thin wooden picks, pointed at each end. It is unlikely that the sticks were original to the jar, and their use is unknown.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0883
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
M-06093
1991.0664.0883.01
1991.0664.0883.02
collector/donor number
SAP 805
This turned wooden straight walled drug jar is painted red with a red lid. The jar is decorated with an ivory-colored oval medallion outlined in black. The interior of the medallion is painted white and is marked, “CORAL/ R PP” in black.
Description
This turned wooden straight walled drug jar is painted red with a red lid. The jar is decorated with an ivory-colored oval medallion outlined in black. The interior of the medallion is painted white and is marked, “CORAL/ R PP” in black. Two vertical lines intersect the stem of the P. This is the alchemical symbol for powder.
This red-colored container was used to store powdered coral. Coral was used for centuries for a variety of ills including but not limited to the reduction of fever, the prevention of bleeding in pregnant women, for gastric pain and to protect infants from convulsions.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0884
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
M-06094
collector/donor number
SAP 806
catalog number
1991.0664.0884.01
1991.0664.0884.02
This conical–shaped wooden drug jar and lid has an ivory–colored shield outlined in black. The wood is slightly warped and the lid does not separate from the container. The interior of the shield is marked, "OLIBAN:” in black paint.
Description
This conical–shaped wooden drug jar and lid has an ivory–colored shield outlined in black. The wood is slightly warped and the lid does not separate from the container. The interior of the shield is marked, "OLIBAN:” in black paint. Olibanum—also known as frankincense—is a yellow–brown resin from the Boswellia Scara tree. Known for millennium in the Middle East, Oliban is still used as incense in religious ceremonies and as an ingredient in perfumes. As a medicine, it was used as a stimulant to promote sweating. It was also used as a laxative.
Containers 1991.0664.0889 through 892 appear to be from the same apothecary. The Deutsche Apotheken-Museum in Heidelberg, Germany has similar containers in their collection.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th Century
ID Number
1991.0664.0892
catalog number
M-06102
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 814
catalog number
1991.0664.0892
Wooden drug jars are rare. In the Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue George Urdang notes in the Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue that the inscription placed just below the lid dates this object to the 17th century. The label reads “Ungula Alcis”, which is elk’s hoof.
Description
Wooden drug jars are rare. In the Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue George Urdang notes in the Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue that the inscription placed just below the lid dates this object to the 17th century. The label reads “Ungula Alcis”, which is elk’s hoof. This wooden drug jar would originally have contained powdered elk’s hoof to prevent seizures from epilepsy. Some suffers wore a piece of elks hoof around their neck.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
17th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0867
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.0867.01
1991.0664.0867.02
collector/donor number
SAP 789
Wooden drug jars were painted with Tempera paints like this example to the left. The straight walled drug jar and lid has a yellow and black five spoke wheel painted in the center of a red shield.
Description
Wooden drug jars were painted with Tempera paints like this example to the left. The straight walled drug jar and lid has a yellow and black five spoke wheel painted in the center of a red shield. The ivory-colored band at the neck of the container is inscribed with gothic script. The back of the container has a paper label placed at an angle. The square green and white label is marked "19".
Location
Currently not on view
date made
17th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0868
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 790
catalog number
1991.0664.0868.01
1991.0664.0868.02
This turned wooden drug jar is painted reddish-brown. The ivory-colored band inscribed with gothic letters indicates this jar dates from the seventeenth century.
Description
This turned wooden drug jar is painted reddish-brown. The ivory-colored band inscribed with gothic letters indicates this jar dates from the seventeenth century. The shield in the center depicts three acorns and leaves on a stem, and probably represented the name of the apothecary where it was used.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
17th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0869
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.0869.01
1991.0664.0869.02
collector/donor number
SAP 792
One side of this red wooden drug jar has a black shield outlined in gold with a unicorn in the center and the opposite side has an ivory-colored shield. The inscription inside the shield is marked "Alumen M??nos.".
Description
One side of this red wooden drug jar has a black shield outlined in gold with a unicorn in the center and the opposite side has an ivory-colored shield. The inscription inside the shield is marked "Alumen M??nos.". At the neck of the container is a black band trimmed in gold-colored paint and reads "Alumen plum.". The inscription just above the gold-colored band at the base of the container is "No. 105"
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0870
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.0870.01
1991.0664.0870.02
This turned conical-shaped wooden drug jar and lid is painted blue-green, ivory, red, black and gold. The front of the container has a oval ivory-colored medallion surrounded by stylized gold leaves tied at the bottom with a red bow.
Description
This turned conical-shaped wooden drug jar and lid is painted blue-green, ivory, red, black and gold. The front of the container has a oval ivory-colored medallion surrounded by stylized gold leaves tied at the bottom with a red bow. The label reads "RAD/MEU".
This jar and .873, 875, 876, and 877 appear to have come from the same apothecary.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0871
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.0871.01
1991.0664.0871.02
collector/donor number
SAP 793
This turned cylindrical wooden drug jar is painted olive-green with an ivory-colored medallian surrounded by "c" scrolls.Currently not on view
Description
This turned cylindrical wooden drug jar is painted olive-green with an ivory-colored medallian surrounded by "c" scrolls.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0872
accession number
1991.0664
catalog number
1991.0664.0872.01
1991.0664.0872.02
collector/donor number
SAP 794
This conical-shaped wooden jar and lid are painted dark green with ivory-colored medallion, gold and red decorative motif.Currently not on view
Description
This conical-shaped wooden jar and lid are painted dark green with ivory-colored medallion, gold and red decorative motif.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0873
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 795
catalog number
1991.0664.0873.01
1991.0664.0873.02
This "Albarello-shaped" jar and lid is an unusual shape for a wooden drug container.
Description
This "Albarello-shaped" jar and lid is an unusual shape for a wooden drug container. (the lid is stuck to the container) The jar has two incised lines at the neck and near the base, and it is painted green with an ivory-colored medallion, a black and gold border, and an alchemical symbol for Pulvis (Powder).
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0874
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 796
catalog number
1991.0664.0874
This conical-shaped wooden drug jar and lid is painted dark green with an ivory-colored oval medallion surrounded by gold leaves and a red ribbon.Currently not on view
Description
This conical-shaped wooden drug jar and lid is painted dark green with an ivory-colored oval medallion surrounded by gold leaves and a red ribbon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0875
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 797
catalog number
1991.0664.0875.01
1991.0664.0875.02
RAD DORONI CI is an abbreviation for Doroncicum also known as Leopard’s Bane. Doroncicum is a yellow flower found in central Europe. Both the flower and the root were used in medicinal preparations.
Description (Brief)
RAD DORONI CI is an abbreviation for Doroncicum also known as Leopard’s Bane. Doroncicum is a yellow flower found in central Europe. Both the flower and the root were used in medicinal preparations. It was once used internally to lower fevers, but has since been found to cause stomach irritation. Externally it was used for burns and to counter act inflammation.
This conical-shaped wooden drug jar and lid are painted a dark green. The decoration includes an ivory-colored medallion with a red and gold leaf design and a red ribbon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0876
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 798
catalog number
1991.0664.0876
SEM DAUCI CERT refers to the seeds of the Wild Carrot. It was used as a dye, a diuretic and to reduce or eliminate flatulence. For centuries it was used to prevent conception.
Description
SEM DAUCI CERT refers to the seeds of the Wild Carrot. It was used as a dye, a diuretic and to reduce or eliminate flatulence. For centuries it was used to prevent conception. Daucas Creticus was introduced to North America and is also referred to as Queen Anne’s lace.
This conical-shaped drug jar and lid is painted a blue-green color, and is marked "SEM DAUCI CERT". The ivory-colored Medallion is surrounded by a gold and red leaf design just below the medallion.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0877
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 799
catalog number
1991.0664.0877
In his Dictionary of Protopharmacology: Theraputic Practices 1700-1850, J. Worth Estes describes Balsamic as “A softening, restoring, healing, and cleansing medicine”.This turned wooden drug jar would have contained Balsamic pills.
Description
In his Dictionary of Protopharmacology: Theraputic Practices 1700-1850, J. Worth Estes describes Balsamic as “A softening, restoring, healing, and cleansing medicine”.
This turned wooden drug jar would have contained Balsamic pills. It has two incised lines at the neck and the base of the container, and the ivory-colored shield outlined in gold and black. There is a piece of paper attached to the interior of the lid with a hand written inscription.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0878
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 800
catalog number
1991.0664.0878.01
1991.0664.0878.02
This wooden straight-walled drug jar and lid is painted dark green, with an ivory-colored oval medallion surrounded by ivory-colored half moons and c-scrolls. The interior of the medallion is marked in black, "Virid oris".
Description
This wooden straight-walled drug jar and lid is painted dark green, with an ivory-colored oval medallion surrounded by ivory-colored half moons and c-scrolls. The interior of the medallion is marked in black, "Virid oris". The Interior wall of the container and lid is stained with a bright green residue.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0879
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 801
catalog number
1991.0664.0879.01
1991.0664.0879.02
This turned conical-shaped wooden, drug jar and lid has two distinct markings.
Description
This turned conical-shaped wooden, drug jar and lid has two distinct markings. An outline of an oval horizontal medallion appears on one side of the container while the other side has a paper label marked in black, "RAD VICTOR L" The container has been painted over several times. Remnants of red, blue and green paint can be seen. Labels were often removed from wooden containers when the contents of the container changed.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0880
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 802
catalog number
1991.0664.0880.01
1991.0664.0880.02
This turned wooded drug and lid with an exaggerated overhang is painted red. Cone-shaped, it widens from top to bottom.
Description
This turned wooded drug and lid with an exaggerated overhang is painted red. Cone-shaped, it widens from top to bottom. The wood has traces of red paint around the neck and the lid, and has a ivory-colored shield surrounded by a finely painted asymmetrical scalloped border in shades of brown.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0882
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 804
catalog number
1991.0664.0882.01
1991.0664.0882.02
This turned, wooden straight-walled drug jar with lid is painted dark red, and has a yellowish oval medallian surrounded by swaged leaves and a ribbon. The inscription in the middle of the medallian is painted in black block letters "GRANA TILLI".Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This turned, wooden straight-walled drug jar with lid is painted dark red, and has a yellowish oval medallian surrounded by swaged leaves and a ribbon. The inscription in the middle of the medallian is painted in black block letters "GRANA TILLI".
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1991.0664.0885
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 807
catalog number
1991.0664.0885.01
1991.0664.0885.02
This turned conical-shaped, wooden drug jar and lid is painted green and has a faded yellow and red medallion.
Description
This turned conical-shaped, wooden drug jar and lid is painted green and has a faded yellow and red medallion. The front of the jar is marked "GRAN/TILLI".
The conservator who worked on this object was able to see at least one earlier design under the green paint, centered on what is now the back of the container. The second design was detected with infra red videocom. The letters "A D" can be seen, as well as two layers of superimposed letters. It is likely this container was used to store several different types of medecinal plant material. Often an apothecary reused a container by removing the one label and replacing it with another.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0886
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 808
catalog number
1991.0664.0886
This conical-shaped, wooden drug jar and lis is painted dark green. The container has an inscription painted in black. The interior walls of the container and lid are stained yellow.Currently not on view
Description
This conical-shaped, wooden drug jar and lis is painted dark green. The container has an inscription painted in black. The interior walls of the container and lid are stained yellow.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
18th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0887
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 809
catalog number
1991.0664.0887.01
1991.0664.0887.02
This wooden drug jar and lid has an ivory-colored shield outlined in black. The interior of the shield reads "BORAX". The interior of lid has two pieces of paper glued to it.
Description
This wooden drug jar and lid has an ivory-colored shield outlined in black. The interior of the shield reads "BORAX". The interior of lid has two pieces of paper glued to it. The white label is obscured by the yellow label which has a hand written inscription in black ink and is marked "Borak..." This jar is part of a set which appears to have been made for the same apothecary. Borax can be used to fight fungal infections, and is an ingredient in many homeopathic remedies. is The Deutsche Apotheken-Museum in Heidelberg, Germany has similar containers in their collection.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0888
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 810
catalog number
1991.0664.0888.01
1991.0664.0888.02
Piper Album or white has been used for centuries in medicines.
Description
Piper Album or white has been used for centuries in medicines. It is purported to help with the digestion of food, and control nausea and vomiting.
This conical-shaped, wooden drug jar and lid has an ivory-colored shield reads "PIPER/ALBUM".
The lid has two paper labels glued to the interior. The yellow label is a hand written inscription written in black ink reads "Lifliargyrum/..." Containers 1991.0664.0889 through 892 appear to be from the same apothecary. The Deutsche Apotheken-Museum in Heidelberg, Germany has similar containers in their collection.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
19th century
ID Number
1991.0664.0889
accession number
1991.0664
collector/donor number
SAP 811
catalog number
1991.0664.0889.01
1991.0664.0889.02

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