Silver biscuit jar with coat of arms of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, 20th century

of shaped form with hinged lid and interior gilding; on the front a noble coat of arms with the motto OPIFER QUE PER ORBEM DICOR’; this motto is from Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’ and translates to ‘I am spoken of all over the world as one who brings help
Beautifully decorated with the coat of arms of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, this 370 year old vessel is the earliest known dated English delftware drug jar.
The coat of arms shows Apollo, a Greek and Roman god of medicine and healing, killing the dragon of disease.
Apollo is supported by two unicorns from the royal arms of King James. The crest of the arms features a rhinoceros: the animal’s powdered horn was once believed to have medicinal properties.
The motto, ‘OPIFER QUE PER ORBEM DICOR’, is from Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’ and translates to ‘I am spoken of all over the world as one who brings help’.

Hallmarked with English apocryphal marks.

Item condition grading: **** good, minor signs of use commensurate with use over time.