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Source Description
The inscriptions on these two pharmacy bottles suggest that they held medicinal and domestic remedies. One bottle reads SCABIOS, or “scabious water,” which may refer to a teasel root compound that was used to clean and decontaminate velvet. Inscribed on the other bottle is the word CAPILLV, which was a liquid extracted from a fern-like plant commonly referred to as “maiden’s hair water.”
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
123272
label
Pair of Pharmacy Bottles
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
123272
contentType
object
title
Pair of Pharmacy Bottles
description
The inscriptions on these two pharmacy bottles suggest that they held medicinal and domestic remedies. One bottle reads SCABIOS, or “scabious water,” which may refer to a teasel root compound that was used to clean and decontaminate velvet. Inscribed on the other bottle is the word CAPILLV, which was a liquid extracted from a fern-like plant commonly referred to as “maiden’s hair water.”
date
c. 1500–1510
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60757162
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 38.8 cm (15 1/4 in.)
cul
Italy, Papal States, Faenza
accession
1943.52
Source extras
tec
tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)
tombstone
Pair of Pharmacy Bottles, c. 1500–1510. Italy, Papal States, Faenza. Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); overall: 38.8 cm (15 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1943.52
collection
Decorative Arts
inscriptions
inscription
Written in lower ribbon band of 1943.52.1: A. SCABIOS.
Written in lower ribbon band of 1943.52.2: A. CAPILLV.
didYouKnow
During the Renaissance, aristocrats tested the speed and agility of their greyhounds in a sport called “hare coursing.”
citations
citation
Milliken, William M. "Italian Majolica." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 31, no. 1 (January 1944): 7-15. <br>Only <em>Pharmacy Bottle </em>(1943.52.2) reproduced.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 10, Reproduced: pp. 13-14
url
www.jstor.org/stable/25141102
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook.</em> Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958.<br>Only <em>Pharmacy Bottle</em> (1943.52.1) mentioned and reproduced.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 217
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966</em>. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966.<br>Only <em>Pharmacy Bottle</em> (1943.52.1) reproduced.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 84
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969.<br>Only <em>Pharmacy Bottle</em> (1943.52.1) reproduced.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 84
citation
Cole, Bruce. <em>Italian Maiolica from Midwestern Collections. </em>Bloomington: Indiana University Art Museum, 1977.<br>Only <em>Pharmacy Bottle</em> (1943.52.2) mentioned & reproduced. Published as <em>Drug Bottle.</em>
page_number
Mentioned: p. 36, cat. no. 11; Reproduced: p. 37
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978.<br>Only <em>Pharmacy Bottle</em> (1943.52.1) reproduced. Published as <em>Drug Bottle.</em>
page_number
Reproduced: p. 97
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art, and Jenifer Neils. T<em>he World of Ceramics: Masterpieces from the Cleveland Museum of Art.</em> Cleveland: The Museum in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1982.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 39, fig. 41
creditline
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:20:32.880000
sourceId
123272
dept
Decorative Art and Design
coll
Decorative Arts
med
tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica)
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
7e3e10e22dea4255