Pill tile, England, 1671-1730

Made:
1671-1730 in England
Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London.

Earthenware pill tile, tin-glaze, decorated with the Arms of the Society of Apothecaries with the arms of the City of London below, English, late 12th to early 18th century

Pills and ointments would have been mixed and made on this pill tile. Drug pills were cut from a large long rolls which had often been mixed with a sugar solution or liquorice. These cut sections could then be rolled into a roughly spherical shape. When other methods of pill making were introduced, such tiles were often then used for decoration and advertising.

The coat of arms of The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of England – which came into being in 1617 – is painted on to the surface showing that the original owner was a member of the society. In it, Apollo, the Greek god of light, music and healing, is surrounded by two unicorns and a rhinoceros. The motto translates from Latin as “And I am called throughout the world the bringer of aid”.

Details

Category:
Pharmacy-ware
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A43111
Materials:
earthenware (tin glazed)
Measurements:
overall: 11 mm x 280 mm x 320 mm, 1.3 kg
overall (as displayed): 322 mm x 275 mm x 13 mm,
type:
pill tile
credit:
Christie's