Faenza, late 17th–early 18th century

A grand tin-glazed earthenware  jar of monumental scale, painted in cobalt blue on white ground. Of ovoid form with a tall cylindrical neck, domed cover, and dramatic serpent-form handles, the vessel is richly decorated with allegorical and religious figural scenes. The neck bears the inscription “CHARITAS”, referencing the virtue of divine charity and underscoring its devotional and healing context.

Originally produced for a monastic or civic pharmacy, jars of this type served both practical and symbolic roles, storing medicinal contents while embodying theological ideals. The survival of its original lid, along with its striking sculptural form and intricate Baroque decoration, places this jar among the rare and significant survivals of Italian maiolica.