Castelli (Abruzzo), Italy
Around 1540–60
Tin-glazed earthenware
16.8 cm
Images of felines are uncommon on pharmacy jars. This one could represent a leopard or a lynx, which inhabited the mountains near Castelli in central Italy. Alternatively, it could be a type of domestic cat called soriano (‘from Syria’ in Italian). The jar’s inscription refers to a root preparation used by women both for menstruation and childbirth.