Gum Lacca, c1745-1807

Description

Glass jar containing one specimen of lac, a gummy secretion from the insect Tachardia lacca (Kerria lacca). From the Burges Collection.

Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 127, no. 67’ and ‘GUM LACCA’.

Lac was used for softness of the gums.