Antique Victorian Physician’s | Portable Apothecary Chest with Original Bottles & Remedies | Circa 1880–1910
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: United Kingdom / Continental Europe
Material: Ebonized wood cabinet with brass fittings, glass bottles, ceramic lids, cork stoppers, and original paper labels
Period: Victorian to Early 20th Century, circa 1880–1910
Description
This is a remarkable and complete late 19th–early 20th century Victorian traveling apothecary / medical cabinet, designed for a physician, chemist, or private household use. Constructed as a compact yet highly organized medical chest, the box opens to reveal an extraordinary array of original glass medicine bottles, test tubes, pharmaceutical jars, and labeled remedies — many retaining their period contents, corks, and original labels.
The cabinet features rich dark ebonized wood with brass stringing and a beautiful engraved brass crest to the lid, suggesting a piece once owned by an affluent household or professional. Inside, the chest is beautifully compartmentalized with tiered bottle racks, side-opening storage wings, test-tube slides, and a central well filled with a fascinating selection of historical medicinal preparations.
Contents include period-labeled patent medicines and chemist bottles such as Laudanum, Dr. Ward’s Liniment, boric acid, linseed compounds, bromure calcium syrup, flatulence remedy tablets, various chemist sample bottles, cold cream, tooth paste jars, and multiple pharmaceutical vials — a true snapshot of historical medical practice.
Features
- Authentic Victorian apothecary / medicine traveling cabinet
- Rich ebonized exterior with brass inlay and crowned monogram plaque to lid
- Original working lock with key present
- Folding side compartments with additional bottle storage
- Upper rack holding numerous corked test tubes with handwritten numerical labels
- Central compartment filled with a wide variety of antique medicine bottles
- Multiple original labeled chemist bottles and patent medicines
- Original corks, labels, and aged contents present throughout
Cultural Significance
During the Victorian and Edwardian periods, medical chests such as this were essential tools of doctors, pharmacists, traveling physicians, and wealthy households. They reflect a fascinating era when medicine bridged folklore, chemistry, and early pharmacology, relying on both scientifically developing practices and now-outdated remedies.
Cabinets like this speak to the realities of everyday health, the dangers and innovations of early medicine, and the trust families placed in such elaborate therapeutic kits. Today, they are prized by collectors, museums, and historians for their beauty, rarity, and powerful connection to human history.
Condition
Excellent display condition for age with expected antique wear.
The cabinet shows light surface wear, small scuffs, and age patina consistent with genuine use. Many bottles retain corks, labels, and contents, with natural evaporation, staining, and label aging present throughout. Some of the taller, thinner vials exhibit chipped or broken tops, and a number of bottles are missing their corks, consistent with historic handling and age. Interior wood remains structurally strong and beautifully preserved. Lock and hinges function, and key is included. A wonderfully honest and untouched historical set.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Height: 10 in
Width: 11 in
Depth: 7.5 in
Age
Victorian to Early 20th Century - Circa 1880–1910
Learn More
Explore the history, purpose, and cultural meaning of historic household medicine chests in Understanding the World Through a Home Medicine Chest
Discover more historic medical tools, curious remedies, and quackery artifacts in our curated Medical & Quackery Artifacts Collection – Relic & Rarity
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: United Kingdom / Continental Europe
Material: Ebonized wood cabinet with brass fittings, glass bottles, ceramic lids, cork stoppers, and original paper labels
Period: Victorian to Early 20th Century, circa 1880–1910
Description
This is a remarkable and complete late 19th–early 20th century Victorian traveling apothecary / medical cabinet, designed for a physician, chemist, or private household use. Constructed as a compact yet highly organized medical chest, the box opens to reveal an extraordinary array of original glass medicine bottles, test tubes, pharmaceutical jars, and labeled remedies — many retaining their period contents, corks, and original labels.
The cabinet features rich dark ebonized wood with brass stringing and a beautiful engraved brass crest to the lid, suggesting a piece once owned by an affluent household or professional. Inside, the chest is beautifully compartmentalized with tiered bottle racks, side-opening storage wings, test-tube slides, and a central well filled with a fascinating selection of historical medicinal preparations.
Contents include period-labeled patent medicines and chemist bottles such as Laudanum, Dr. Ward’s Liniment, boric acid, linseed compounds, bromure calcium syrup, flatulence remedy tablets, various chemist sample bottles, cold cream, tooth paste jars, and multiple pharmaceutical vials — a true snapshot of historical medical practice.
Features
- Authentic Victorian apothecary / medicine traveling cabinet
- Rich ebonized exterior with brass inlay and crowned monogram plaque to lid
- Original working lock with key present
- Folding side compartments with additional bottle storage
- Upper rack holding numerous corked test tubes with handwritten numerical labels
- Central compartment filled with a wide variety of antique medicine bottles
- Multiple original labeled chemist bottles and patent medicines
- Original corks, labels, and aged contents present throughout
Cultural Significance
During the Victorian and Edwardian periods, medical chests such as this were essential tools of doctors, pharmacists, traveling physicians, and wealthy households. They reflect a fascinating era when medicine bridged folklore, chemistry, and early pharmacology, relying on both scientifically developing practices and now-outdated remedies.
Cabinets like this speak to the realities of everyday health, the dangers and innovations of early medicine, and the trust families placed in such elaborate therapeutic kits. Today, they are prized by collectors, museums, and historians for their beauty, rarity, and powerful connection to human history.
Condition
Excellent display condition for age with expected antique wear.
The cabinet shows light surface wear, small scuffs, and age patina consistent with genuine use. Many bottles retain corks, labels, and contents, with natural evaporation, staining, and label aging present throughout. Some of the taller, thinner vials exhibit chipped or broken tops, and a number of bottles are missing their corks, consistent with historic handling and age. Interior wood remains structurally strong and beautifully preserved. Lock and hinges function, and key is included. A wonderfully honest and untouched historical set.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Height: 10 in
Width: 11 in
Depth: 7.5 in
Age
Victorian to Early 20th Century - Circa 1880–1910
Learn More
Explore the history, purpose, and cultural meaning of historic household medicine chests in Understanding the World Through a Home Medicine Chest
Discover more historic medical tools, curious remedies, and quackery artifacts in our curated Medical & Quackery Artifacts Collection – Relic & Rarity
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