A collection of 49 apothecary vessels has been sold at auction for more than twice its pre-sale estimate.
Sold at Vost's of Newmarket on June 28, the collection fetched £53,000 against the auctioneers' estimate of £25,500. The highest price was paid for an English delft drug jar, circa 1700-20, which went for £2,900 - roughly four times its pre-sale estimate of £600-800. Probably made in London, the 16.5cm high cylindrical drug jar bears the inscription "U:BASILICON" (basilicon ointment).
Several other items in the collection were sold for four figure sums, as were two rare yew wood mortars and pestles sold at the same auction.
The collection had been gathered together by an American doctor over a period of about 20 years.

A basilicon ointment jar which went for £2,900. Made from wax, pitch, olive oil, myrrh and frankincense, basilicon ointment was used to promote the healing of wounds