➤ Item Condition :Good - Lightly used, with very light scratches, or minor cosmetic wear, but has no structural issues. Most antique and vintage items fit this condition.
➤ Restoration Work & Modifications :No restorations or modifications have been made
This fabulous antique French apothecary jar, with its tightly fitting lid and pedestal base, has been beautifully hand-painted with a rural, provençal scene embellished with simple flowers and leaves. Marked on its base with the words 'C. Hyacinte', it would once have been used as an attractive and practical storage jar on the shelf of an old- fashioned French pharmacy. 'Confection d'hyacinte' was a mysterious preparation containing a blend of crushed hyacinths (a variety of orange-brown to red zircon gemstones, rather than the floral variety), other precious stones, including sapphires, emeralds and topaz, limestone, and plant extracts such as saffron, cinnamon, myrrh, camphor, as well as sugar and honey. This strange concoction was thought to to be particularly suitable for stopping vomiting and stomach upsets, for restoring languid stomachs and strength weakened by long illnesses, and for remedying fainting spells! The jar dates from the end of the 19th century, and is in excellent antique condition. It would make an eye-catching decoration in a bathroom or on a dressing table.
