English Delftware Drug Jar: Angel With Outspread Wings design, 1684

The ‘angel with outspread wings’ design emerged around the time of the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660.
The contents label is similar to the ‘Ribbon cartouche’ design, with the label in the form of a ribbon with ends similar to a swallow’s tail. Above the label is an angel’s head with outspread wings.
The folding of the ribbon forms two compartments. The left hand one was typically used for the initial letter of the type of preparation the jar contained, for example ‘S’ for syrups, ‘C’ for conserve, and ‘O’ for oleum (oil).

The inscription on this wet drug jar ‘O VULPIN: M:H 1684’ reveals the jar was used for storing Oleum Vulpinum, Oil of Fox. M.H. are the initials of Michael Hastings of Dublin, the apothecary who commissioned the jar. The jar was manufactured in London in 1684.

The ‘angel with outspread wings’ design was used on English Delftware drug jars from around 1660-1725.

N.Culpeper The Physicians Library 1667 p.220

Colledg. Take a fat Fox, of a middle age, *(if you can get such an one) [*that was wel put in, therefore when you have caught a Fox, bring him alive to the Colledg, and let them look in his mouth first, and tell you how old he is, so shall your Oil be cum privilegio] caught by hunting about Autumn, cut in pieces, the skin and bowels taken away, the bones broken, boyl him (scumming it diligently) in white wine and spring water, of each six pound, till half be consumed: with three ounces of Sea salt, the tops of Dill, Time and Chamepitys, of each one handful; after straining boil it again with four pound of the best old Oil, the flowers of Sage and Rosemary, of each one handful; the water being consumed, strain it again, and keep the pure Oil for use. Culpeper. It is exceeding good in pains of the joynts, Gouts, pains in the Back and Reins; it heats the body being afflicted by cold, and hard lodging in the Aire, whereby the joynts are stiff, a disease incident to many in these times.