From an important collection of medical antiquities in the process of being dispersed comes a rare pharmacy vase used for the sale of bloodletting leeches. until the 1950s it was customary to use leeches to reduce hematomas and for other therapies. the leeches were taken from the jar with the appropriate basket and delivered to customers in a glass jar. The leech jar is the most sought after among pharmacy jars and especially in Italy it is very rare to find any. This nickel-plated brass model still has the name of the pharmacy and the writing “Mignatte”, an ancient slang form to indicate leeches. Italy early 1900s.