This albarello is covered in a white tin-glaze over an earthenware body. The deep blue decoration consists of three large inverted leaves, each bearing central crosshatched patterns. The remaining space is filled with similar leaf motifs facing upwards; the shoulder has alternating triangles and the neck encircled with horizontal lines. The form of this albarello is waisted with a slightly everted rim and foot.

Albarelli originated in the Middle East and were used in both apothecaries and the home to hold ointments, dry drugs, herbs and spices. These cylindrical ceramic vessels were generally formed with slight inward curves for easy handling and wide openings to reach the contents, and were stored with parchment tied around the rim. Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries albarelli were exported in large quantities from Persia, Syria and Egypt to Europe. This resulted in their production later in European countries, in particular Italy and Spain.

While Manises was the primary producer of albarelli in Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries, this type is generally attributed to Catalonia. In contemporaneous literature, they are referred to as pots blaus regalats or 'pots of melted blue' because of their running glaze. It has been suggested that they were made by Valencian potters working in Catalonia.[1]

A very similar example in the North Carolina Museum of Art (accession no. 2021.21.3) is dated to 1450–1500. Another dated to the same period is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (accession no. C.78-1911) and attributed to Catalonia.

[1] Ray, A. Spanish Pottery: 1248-1898, London: V&A Publications, 2000, cat. 86, p. 40.