Pair 19th Century Large Antique Hand Painted Apothecary Pharmacy Display Bottles

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This elegant pair of 19th-century apothecary pharmacy bottles offers a beautifully preserved glimpse into the refined world of early pharmaceutical … Read more 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 excellent 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. See less