Post medieval red pottery Three ointment jars
11
days
14
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43
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25
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Three post-medieval ointment jars, 17th century, wheel-made red earthenware, with diameters of 42, 43 and 51 mm, in good condition with surface wear and minor chips; provenance Netherlands, Privécollectie, authenticity Original, acquired in 2026 from a private collector, previous owner since 2025.
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Description from the seller
Three Ointment Jars
Culture / Period: Post-Medieval
Date / Period: 17th century
Material: Red pottery
Dimensions: 42 mm, 43 mm, and 51 mm
Condition: Good condition, with surface wear, firing irregularities, and minor chips consistent with age and use.
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 114
The current owner purchased the objects from a private collector, N.N., in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Oosterbeek, stated that the objects had been in his collection since 2025.
According to the previous owner, the objects had previously been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the objects was available from the previous owner.
Background Information:
This group of three small post-medieval ointment jars dates to the 17th century and represents utilitarian ceramic containers used in domestic, medical, and commercial contexts during the early modern period. The vessels are wheel-made in red earthenware and display slightly flaring rims, compact bodies, and traces of glaze on some examples, typical of practical pottery produced throughout the Netherlands and neighbouring regions during the Dutch Golden Age.
Small jars of this type were commonly used for storing ointments, medicinal salves, cosmetics, pigments, spices, herbal mixtures, and other valuable substances required in daily life. Apothecaries, travelling merchants, physicians, and households all relied upon durable ceramic containers for the storage and preparation of medicinal and household products. Interior glazing helped protect the porous earthenware from liquids and oils while improving hygiene and preservation.
During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic developed into one of Europe’s leading commercial powers, with imported medicinal ingredients, spices, dyes, and luxury goods arriving through extensive maritime trade networks. This expanding trade economy increased the demand for practical ceramic vessels in pharmacies, workshops, kitchens, and urban households. Pottery workshops responded by producing large quantities of affordable utilitarian wares adapted to a wide range of everyday functions.
The visible wheel-turning marks, slight asymmetry, and variations in glaze and firing demonstrate authentic hand-crafted production methods characteristic of post-medieval earthenware manufacture. Comparable ointment jars and apothecary vessels have been excavated from urban archaeological contexts throughout the Netherlands, including domestic refuse pits, market areas, and former pharmacy sites.
These vessels provide a direct and tangible connection to everyday life in the 17th century, where ceramic jars such as these formed part of the practical material culture of households, trade, and medicine during the post-medieval period.
Three Ointment Jars
Culture / Period: Post-Medieval
Date / Period: 17th century
Material: Red pottery
Dimensions: 42 mm, 43 mm, and 51 mm
Condition: Good condition, with surface wear, firing irregularities, and minor chips consistent with age and use.
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 114
The current owner purchased the objects from a private collector, N.N., in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Oosterbeek, stated that the objects had been in his collection since 2025.
According to the previous owner, the objects had previously been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the objects was available from the previous owner.
Background Information:
This group of three small post-medieval ointment jars dates to the 17th century and represents utilitarian ceramic containers used in domestic, medical, and commercial contexts during the early modern period. The vessels are wheel-made in red earthenware and display slightly flaring rims, compact bodies, and traces of glaze on some examples, typical of practical pottery produced throughout the Netherlands and neighbouring regions during the Dutch Golden Age.
Small jars of this type were commonly used for storing ointments, medicinal salves, cosmetics, pigments, spices, herbal mixtures, and other valuable substances required in daily life. Apothecaries, travelling merchants, physicians, and households all relied upon durable ceramic containers for the storage and preparation of medicinal and household products. Interior glazing helped protect the porous earthenware from liquids and oils while improving hygiene and preservation.
During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic developed into one of Europe’s leading commercial powers, with imported medicinal ingredients, spices, dyes, and luxury goods arriving through extensive maritime trade networks. This expanding trade economy increased the demand for practical ceramic vessels in pharmacies, workshops, kitchens, and urban households. Pottery workshops responded by producing large quantities of affordable utilitarian wares adapted to a wide range of everyday functions.
The visible wheel-turning marks, slight asymmetry, and variations in glaze and firing demonstrate authentic hand-crafted production methods characteristic of post-medieval earthenware manufacture. Comparable ointment jars and apothecary vessels have been excavated from urban archaeological contexts throughout the Netherlands, including domestic refuse pits, market areas, and former pharmacy sites.
These vessels provide a direct and tangible connection to everyday life in the 17th century, where ceramic jars such as these formed part of the practical material culture of households, trade, and medicine during the post-medieval period.
Details
Culture
Post medieval
Century/timeframe
17th Century
Name of object
Three ointment jars
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2026
Material
red pottery
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
