I am perpetually in search of drawings like this bird, and all the better that this one was drawn then affixed to this French apothecary bottle. It is signed by a Luisa Wells, with a handwritten note above that is a bit hard to read, but appears to be addressed to a Master Gaines White (or similar), who Luisa writes "is a fine scholar and learns well." And so I believe Luisa was likely Master Gaines' tutor, and that she likely travelled to France, and brought him back this bottle (filled with what I am not sure) as a gift from her travels, perhaps a Grand Tour. The label on the opposite side of the bottle dates it to the 1850s-60, from the Fournalez Pharmacy in Brassac, in the South of France. I really love things like this that tell a whole story, and can just imagine Luisa returning home from her adventures and sitting at her desk drawing then carefully pasting the label on this. Lovely and very special feeling.
5 1/4" t x 2 9/16" wide and deep. Very good condition--label is well adhered, drawing is bold and clear, bottle shows not damage.
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