Drug jar

Drug jar made in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) in the second half of the 16th century. It is decorated with two coats of arms: one of the Monastery of El Escorial (north of Madrid) founded by Phillip II and the other one of the Monastic Order of Saint Jerome.
This kind of jar was used to keep herbs and medicinal products, in this case, asbestos, as can be seen in the center of the pot “L.AMIANTUS” (latin).