Set of 17th Century Montelupo Armorial Albarelli

A rare and impressive set of three Montelupo pharmacy jars, richly decorated in full Baroque polychromy. The central albarello of waisted cylindrical form, flanked by two taller tapering examples, each painted in tin glaze with a large cartouche enclosing a heraldic shield. The arms show a diagonal bend with three gold six-pointed stars and, in base, an armored arm holding a flower. The escutcheons are framed by bold scrolling foliage, grotesque masks, and winged term figures, executed in vibrant yellow, green, manganese and cobalt blue.
The survival of three closely related jars—matching in form, palette, and heraldic design—is particularly unusual. Apothecary fittings were often dispersed, with individual jars sold off over centuries; complete groups rarely remain intact. As a coherent set, these albarelli evoke the original decorative impact of a Tuscan pharmacy interior and are considerably more desirable than single examples.
This decorative heraldry follows the Montelupo workshop tradition of “fantasy arms” commissioned for apothecaries or hospital pharmacies, rather than representing a specific Florentine family such as Ginori. The exuberant design and palette are typical of Tuscan production between 1680 and 1720.