TROCH BECH CITR

18th century

This is a wide mouthed drug jar with a white tin glaze. At the top of the blue rococo cartouche, a hand holds three flowers flanked by a “C” scroll and castle tower (possibly a bishops insignia). The interior of the cartouche is marked in black, “TROCH BECH CITR.” In the <i>Squibb Ancient Pharmacy Catalogue</i>, George Urdang attributes this jar to the town of Fluda. However, Professor Wolfgang Hagen Hein believed the jar to be from the town of Durlach within the region of Baden Wurttemburg in southwest Germany near the French border. In his letter dated August 29, 1983, Hein cites page 144 in his book coauthored with Dirk Arnold Wittop Koning <i>Deutsche Apotheken Fayencen</i>. Trochisci Bechici Citrus was a small cake or lozenge made with a citrus fruit to alleviate respiratory ailments.