Articles
Series of two Paris porcelain pharmacy jars, inscriptions "PILLUL VALLET" and "EMPL DIAHYL", with polychrome decoration of two snakes coiled around palm trees, below the rocks: symbol of the Three Kingdoms of Nature*, period Nineteenth century.
These pots are in good general condition. They are part of the same series even if they are not an exact pair. Signed hollow on the bottom.
Note: the grip of a lid is broken and will need to be glued back together, some enamelling defects, slight wear on the decorations, see photos.
* The ornamentation consists of a palm tree (plant kingdom) whose trunk is entwined by a snake (animal kingdom), which rises from rocky ground (mineral kingdom). By using these symbols, apothecaries and then phramacians highlighted their area of expertise: the knowledge and mastery of natural drugs for the preparation of medicines. This symbol was widely used to illustrate documents and vases, notably Paris porcelain medicine jars throughout the 19th century.
(Extract “The symbol of the three kingdoms of nature on Paris porcelain pharmacy jars” by Patrick Bourrinet)
