Pottery, vessel, alembic

This ceramic vessel is an alembic and was used in the distilling process. A vessel called a cucurbit was placed underneath the alembic. The cucurbit would be filled with whatever substance was to be distilled. The cucurbit was heated and the vapour from the substance inside would go up into the alembic. The vapour would then condense on the inside surface of the alembic and run down into a channel at the bottom and out of the spout. Vessels like this were used 'not only by apothecaries for drawing out salubrious waters for restoring health to men, but also by women for making their salves [ointments] and paints'.