Albarello

The albarello (pl. albarelli), a type of jar used to store various products, was originally used as a medicinal jar designed to hold apothecaries’ ointments and dried herbs. Albarelli are designed with different types of motifs but are characterised by their cylindrical shape with a narrow waist, sloped shoulders and everted mouth, that would make it easy to handle from a shelf. First produced in Central Asia, Iran and the Near East, they were introduced to Spain and Italy from Egypt and Syria through trade. Craftsmen especially from Seville and Valencia began mass producing these jars from the 8th century AH/14th century CE onwards. This Hispano-Moresque example is decorated using the ‘florones y alafias’ style, consisting of blue and brown motifs applied horizontally by registers and alternating between vegetal and geometric interlaced patterns and medallions on its body, and a pseudo-Arabic inscription on the neck.