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Lot Essay
The present jar was made for the apothecary at the monastery of San Martino, Naples. Housing a Carthusian order, the monastery served as a local hospice. The monastery as an active religious institution was dissolved under orders of King Ferdinand IV. Much of the art housed there was removed to the Real Museo di Napoli by 1831 from which it was further dispersed around Europe.
Albarelli from the same apothecary as the present vase are in the collection of the Musée nationale de la céramique at Sèvres and have appeared at auction including Christie's, Milan, 4 December 2003, lot 306 (an albrello dated 1698) and Sotheby's Florence, 28 November 1988, lot 246 (an albarello also dated 1702 and erroneously ascribed to Castelli). Almost all of the pieces from the service have been albarelli, small in scale and heavily restored. The present large scale jar is notable for both its large size and good condition. For a detailed discussion of the wares made for the apothecary at the Certosa di San Martino, see Teodoro Fittipaldi, op cit, vol. I, pp. 187-193, nos. 439-448; vol. II, pp. 237-241, nos. 439-448.
Albarelli from the same apothecary as the present vase are in the collection of the Musée nationale de la céramique at Sèvres and have appeared at auction including Christie's, Milan, 4 December 2003, lot 306 (an albrello dated 1698) and Sotheby's Florence, 28 November 1988, lot 246 (an albarello also dated 1702 and erroneously ascribed to Castelli). Almost all of the pieces from the service have been albarelli, small in scale and heavily restored. The present large scale jar is notable for both its large size and good condition. For a detailed discussion of the wares made for the apothecary at the Certosa di San Martino, see Teodoro Fittipaldi, op cit, vol. I, pp. 187-193, nos. 439-448; vol. II, pp. 237-241, nos. 439-448.