A rare large blue and white Dutch Delft albarello and cover inscribed 'MEL ALBUM', 18th C.

H.: 31,2 cm (incl. cover)
H.: 29,2 cm (excl. cover)

Marked VH above a numeral 3 in blue on the base, for Hendrik Van Hoorn, the 'Drie Posteleyne Astonne' workshop, Delft, 1759-1804.
'MEL ALBUM' is Latin for 'white honey', a purified and bleached form of honey. 

Provenance: A private Belgian collection from Bruges. 

Ref.: 
- Christie's Amsterdam, 13 October 1998, lot 9 for a near identical example by 'The Greek A' workshop, inscribed 'C:Rosar:Rubr:'. (sold GBP 5.189,00) (link) 
- A. Lothian, 'Dutch drug jars and their marks, The alchemist' p. 216 where it is suggested that the two cherubs are Panacea and Hygiea, the daughters of Aesculap. (source: Christie's)

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