Apothecary Jar, RAD: IPECAC

18th century

This blown glass drug jar with an "oval-shaped" stopper has rounded shoulders and tapers slightly to terminate in an applied stepped foot. The container has two multi-colored floral vines connected by a blue ribbon at the top and a red ribbon at the bottom creating a wreath. The interior of the wreath is marked with the alchemical symbol for powder and, <i>RAD; IPECAC</i>. The Roman numeral II is etched into the shoulder and the number four is etched into the stopper. The opaque white color of the glass comes from the addition of tin oxide and was meant to imitate porcelain.