Albarello for Hamech’s confection

Description

The presented majolica vessel comes from the collection of Mateusz Bronisław Grabowski (1904–1976). It is an albarello, i.e. a ceramic apothecary vessel incurved in the middle. There is an inscription in the narrow part of the vessel: CONF.(ECTIO) (H)AMECH, which means the Hamech’s confection. The recipe for this medication originates from medieval Arabic medicine. The drug exhibited a laxative effect and was recommended for melancholy and skin diseases – e.g. for the treatment of scabies and leprosy. ID no.: KGZ 5932 Time of creation: 16th/17th century Museum: The Museum of Pharmacy at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków https://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/objects-list/963 Digitalisation: RDW MIC, Virtual Małopolska project