H x W x D (2023.101.3.4ab): 6 × 3 3/8 × 3 3/8 in. (15.3 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm)
H x W x D (2023.101.3.4a): 3 7/8 × 3 1/16 × 3 1/16 in. (9.9 × 7.7 × 7.7 cm)
H x W x D (2023.101.3.4b): 2 5/16 × 3 3/8 × 3 3/8 in. (5.9 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm)
Type:
apothecary bottles
Place made:
Rodez, France, Europe
Date:
mid 20th century
Caption:
Pianist and vocalist Hazel Scott was an icon of mid-20th century American popular culture and a trailblazer for Black women in the entertainment industry. She famously abstained from drugs and these apothecary jars were a gag gift from some of her musician friends, likely during the years she spent living in France (1957-1967).
Description:
A novelty apothecary jar with "curare" label owned by Hazel Scott. The jar (a) and its accompanying lid (b) are painted porcelain.
The porcelain apothecary jar has a cylindrical body with an embossed ring at the shoulder and a footed base that have been accented with painted gold leaf bands. There is one thin gold leaf band at the shoulder and two at the footed base. Painted just below the shoulder is a large blue banner with painted black text that reads [CURARE]. Painted directly below the banner is a floral wreath design with a large pink and yellow rose at the center that is bookended by sprigs of three, small, orange cup-shaped flowers on one side, and three, small, five petal, dark and light blue flowers on the other. All of the flowers are accented with green leaves of varying sizes and shapes. The rest of the apothecary jar’s exterior is plain cream in color and the interior is plain. Handwritten brown text on the bottom of the apothecary jar reads [P. Page's / Apothicaire / à Rodez].
The accompanying porcelain drop in lid for the apothecary jar has a short, round wall on the bottom that nestles tightly into the mouth of the jar, creating a seal. The top of the lid has a conical shape with concave sides, that taper outwards towards the bottom edge of the lid and features a ball shaped knob at the top. The knob has been painted gold leaf. Painted below is a wide blue band that wraps around the convex neck of the lid. Around the bottom edge of the lid is a thin, gold leaf band. Painted between the two bands is a floral wreath design with a large pink and yellow rose at the center that is bookended by sprigs of four, small, five petal, dark and light orange flowers on one side, and three, blue, cup-shaped flowers with yellow stems on the other. The rest of the lid’s exterior and interior are plain cream color.
