Albarello

[4][5] Such jars served both functional and decorative purposes in traditional apothecaries and pharmacies, and represented status and wealth.

[3] Albarelli were also utilized in ways other than its originally intended purpose: they were used to hold perfume, they could function as a form of décor, and as vases to display flowers.

[1] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the Italian word albarello means "a decorated ceramic pharmacy jar of a cylindrical shape with a slight constriction halfway up (first used in 1344 as alberello; and then later, in the late 15th century as albarello), but the term's exact origin and etymology remains a topic for a debate.

[11] Additionally, Chinese porcelain and its manufacturing played a significant role in influencing the development and spread of arbarelli across Europe.

[10] Spanning out of the East from the Islamic empires and China, the albarelli were first introduced to Europe in Syria and Spain and then brought to Italy by Muslim Arab traders, during the height of the Italian Renaissance where its shape and purpose was adopted.

[11][10] By importing majolica from Spain and Syria, Italian artists began producing versions of their own that differed from the traditional Islamic arbarelli with the addition of handles to heighten the functionality of the jar and the introduction of new designs including "a trofei" (with trophies), "a foglie" (leafy designs), and "a frutti" (decorated with fruits).

[18] Unlike English albarelli, Italian-based pots had flat edges on the rims to account for the placement of a paper cover that functioned as a lid.

Specific styles of decoration are now associated with various Italian locations, including Florence, Venice, Gerace and Palermo in Sicily.

Blue and white albarello adorned with the traditional colors of Chinese Porcelain and decorated with designs derived from Kufic script, a style of Arabic script. Manufactured in Tuscany, Italy in the second half of the 15th century.
16th century Spanish Albarello with a symbol in the middle of the vase, marking it as a pharmacy jar for some powder.
Two albarelli fashioned with a prominent Italian motif called "a foglie" or leafy design. Most likely manufactured in the Naples district. Located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection.
Albarello jar found in Iran in the 12th century. Has Arabic religious text around the jar, as well as animals running in action.