This elegant pair of 19th-century apothecary pharmacy bottles offers a
beautifully preserved glimpse into the refined world of early
pharmaceutical practice. Hand-blown in clear glass, each bottle measures
3.375 inches in diameter and stands 9.25 inches tall, rising to
approximately 10 to 10.125 inches with their original ground glass
stoppers in place. Both retain their original hand-painted gilt
cartouche labels with black Gothic lettering, a hallmark of professional
European and American pharmacies of the period, where Latin
nomenclature conveyed both precision and authority.
The first
bottle is labeled “Tinct. Auranti,” short for Tinctura Aurantii, meaning
tincture of orange peel—a widely used 19th-century digestive tonic and
aromatic bitter prescribed to stimulate appetite and aid digestion. The
lower two-thirds of this bottle is intentionally fogged or acid-etched
on the interior, a feature often associated with light-sensitive or
aromatic preparations. A tiny hand-scratched inventory number “29”
appears near the lip, while its matching stopper is marked “25” and
brings the total height to approximately 10 inches.
The second
bottle is labeled “Tinct. Tolutan,” referring to Tinctura Tolutana, or
tincture of balsam of Tolu, a resin-based preparation valued for its
soothing, expectorant qualities and commonly used in cough syrups and
respiratory remedies. This bottle bears a hand-scratched “40,” and its
unmarked stopper sits slightly tall in the neck, bringing the overall
height to approximately 10.125 inches; the stopper shows minor chips and
flakes around the ground area, consistent with age and authentic use.
Both
bottles display gentle wear and small losses to the gold labels and
gilt-tipped stoppers, enhancing their period character, while the glass
bodies remain otherwise in very good antique condition. Please review
the photos for further condition assessment.
Together, these
bottles form a compelling and highly decorative pair, rich in medical
history and perfectly suited for display in a study, library, or curated
apothecary collection.