OLIBAN

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.

Date Made: 19th Century

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: Germany

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, Freedman, Paul. Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination

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

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1991.0664.0892Catalog Number: M-06102Accession Number: 1991.0664Collector/Donor Number: SAP 814Catalog Number: 1991.0664.0892

Object Name: jarOther Terms: jar; Pharmaceutical Container

Physical Description: turnen wood (overall production method/technique)wood (overall material)paint (overall material)Measurements: overall: 13.3 cm x 7.1 cm; 5 1/4 in x 2 25/32 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a8-739f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_994331

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