Z: ALUM: UST

Description:

This urn-shaped blown-glass jar has rounded shoulders and a flared neck with a round glass stopper in its mouth. The opaqueness of the glass comes from the addition of tin oxide in an attempt to mimic porcelain. The jar has a gold shield decorated with red and blue flowers, with a label inside the shield that reads ALUM UST in black. This jar would have contained Alumen ustum, or heated alumen. Alumen ustum was chiefly used as a caustic for irritating the skin.

Date Made: 18th century

Location: Currently not on view

Subject: Pharmacy

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine, Health & Medicine, European Apothecary, Art

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: Urdang, George and Ferdinand William Nitardy. The Squibb Ancient Pharmacy: A Catalogue of the Collection

Credit Line: Gift of American Pharmaceutical Association and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1991.0664.0473Accession Number: 1991.0664Catalog Number: M-056221991.0664.0473.011991.0664.0473.02Collector/Donor Number: SAP 334

Object Name: bottle

Physical Description: glass (overall material)paint (overall material)Measurements: overall: 11.5 cm x 5.5 cm; 4 1/2 in x 2 3/16 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a8-a445-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_994211

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