Margaritae Orient. Et. Occident, c1745-1807

Description

Glass jar containing specimens of pearls from the oyster Avicula margaritifera. From the Burges Collection

Text on paper labels reads ‘Catal. Mat. Med. p. 116. No. 59’ and ‘MARGARITAE ORIENT. et OCCIDENT.’

Nicolas Lemery says that ‘All Pearl is esteem’d cordial, proper against Infection, to recruit and restore lost Spirits; but their chief Virtue is to destroy and kill the Acids, as other Alcalies do, and likewise to correct the Acrimony of the Stomach. Pomet adds that ‘The Ladies of Quality use the fine ground Powder of it, to give a Lustre and Beauty to the Face.’