A garniture of three drug jars mid 18th century

A garniture of three drug jars mid 18th century, consisting of two syrup jars and a dry drug jar, all decorated in blue with shaped cartouches surmounted by birds in branches, flanking the spouts of the syrup jars and a basket of fruit on the ovoid jar, one inscribed 'S:BALSAMIC', another 'S:DE:ARTEM', the last 'C.CYNOSBAT', 17.5m. (3)

Provenance: acquired from Dr Middleton of Battersea on 12th July 1981, formerly in the Twentyman Collection.

Syrupus Balsamicus (Syrup of Balsam of Tolu) was used for digestive complaints. The main ingredient of Syrupus Artemesia is mugwort, which had a variety of uses, including calming hysteria in children. Cynobastos used a variety of rose hips, including dog-rose, for a confection that warded against colds and flu, and was also believed to alleviate arthritis.