ticketsMember | Make a donation

Storage jar (albarello) for mostarda

dated 1543
Not on view
In addition to medicines and small household items, Renaissance pharmacies also sold candies, spices, and condiments, such as the pickled fruit jelly (mostarda) that once filled this jar. The decoration of this albarello includes a surprise that would be visible only when the jar was taken from the shelf and placed upon the counter: a still life on the back depicting the tools necessary for the preparation of the mostarda.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Storage jar (albarello) for mostarda
  • Date: dated 1543
  • Culture: Italian
  • Medium: Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
  • Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 13 7/16 × 8 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (34.1 × 21.6 × 21.6 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941
  • Object Number: 41.190.71
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Bowl with The Virgin and the Unicorn and arms of Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Pesaro
Bowl with The Virgin and the Unicorn and arms of Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon
Italian, Pesaro
probably ca. 1486–88
Madonna and Child with Scroll, Luca della Robbia Italian, Glazed terracotta, Italian, Florence
Madonna and Child with Scroll
Luca della Robbia
ca. 1455
Virgin and Child, Andrea della Robbia Italian, Glazed terracotta, Italian, Florence
Virgin and Child
Andrea della Robbia
ca. 1470–75
Dish with The Woman of Sestos and the Eagle and arms of the Pucci family, Fra Xanto Avelli da Rovigo, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Urbino
Dish with The Woman of Sestos and the Eagle and arms of the Pucci family
Fra Xanto Avelli da Rovigo
1532
Ewer (Brocca), Medici Porcelain Manufactory Italian, Soft-paste porcelain decorated in underglaze blue, Italian, Florence
Ewer (Brocca)
Medici Porcelain Manufactory
ca. 1575–87

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.