Lot Essay
The inscription on this jar refers to Fumaria officinalis or Common Fumitory, a herb used for medicinal purposes. Although rare, apothecary jars in Chinese porcelain are recorded; however they vary in shape and decoration. See Rudolf E. A. Drey, Apothecary Jars, London , 1978, chapter 10, pp.172-176 for a discussion on Chinese pharmaceutical wares and their history, and figs. 88-90B and colour plate H, for examples of the variety of jars found in Chinese porcelain. Other jars, of albarello form, can be found in both the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The bottle form, as in the present lot, appears to be more rare. Compare the very similar example illustrated by A. du Boulay, op.cit., 1984, p.193, fig.10 and sold in these Rooms 23 June 1975, lot 54. A Kangxi blue and white jar, similarly inscribed with its contents but having originally had a spout and handle, is illustrated by D. S. Howard and J. Ayers, op.cit., 1978, vol.I, no.13, p.58.