Large 19th Century Apothecary’s Leech Jar

Description

Heading : Large hand blown apothecary leech jar
Date : c1820-1850
Origin : England or France
Colour : Clear
Rim : Everted
Body : Ovoid
Stem : Capstan
Pontil : Snapped
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 24cm tall with a 14.4cm rim and an 11.8cm foot
Condition : Excellent
Restoration : None
Weight : 1420 grams

Additional Information : An oddity for the 19th century glass or apothecary / medical collection or simply a good conversation piece. A bowl shaped leech jar with its distinctive wide. folded lip. Smaller than the more elaborate porcelain jars of period apothecary shops from which the leeches would be transferred. Large jars such as this one were have been kept by the apothecary who would have provided smaller examples to hold your purchased leeches and sealed with a piece of gauze tied over the mouth to facilitate the passage of air and preventing escape of the precious leeches. This will keep your leech good condition and ready for a bloodletting for months without further attention. The ideal pet!

A customer showed us one large example of such a jar in which he was keeping miniature cactii! .