This hand-painted jar is from the mid-20th century France. It is decorated in glazed faïence and inscribed HACHISCH
“Hachisch,” the historical French spelling of hashish, reflects the long and unusual history of cannabis in French medicine and culture. By the nineteenth century, French physicians were actively studying its effects, while the substance simultaneously fascinated writers and artists.
Ceramic jars like this descend from the traditional vessels once used to organize the shelves of European apothecaries. Pharmacists kept an enormous range of raw ingredients and prepared compounds in labeled containers. The vessels were practical, but also part of the presentation of the pharmacy itself.
