Late 19th Century French Enameled Apothecary Tincture Bottles – Pair

Details

Description

A beautiful pair of late 19th-century French pharmacy bottles, dating to approximately 1880–1900. Mouth-blown in clear glass, each bottle features … Read more A beautiful pair of late 19th-century French pharmacy bottles, dating to approximately 1880–1900. Mouth-blown in clear glass, each bottle features an original cream-colored enameled cartouche with fine linear borders and black pharmaceutical lettering.

The inscriptions read “Teint. de Gentiane” and “Teint. de Colomb.” — period abbreviations for Teinture de Gentiane (Gentian Tincture) and Teinture de Colombo (Colombo Tincture). Both gentian and Colombo root were traditional bitter botanicals used in 19th-century European pharmacy, particularly in preparations associated with digestion and appetite. Period French pharmaceutical formularies document both tinctures and even describe Colombo tincture as being prepared in the manner of gentian tincture, making these two bottles an especially appealing pair.

The bottles retain wonderful evidence of their hand manufacture, including subtle variations in form, irregularities and bubbles within the glass, hand-finished mouths, and pontil evidence to the bases. The enameled decoration has mellowed and faded with age, particularly on the Colombo bottle, giving the pair an authentic timeworn character.

Purchased at the Marché d’Aligre antiques market in Paris, these are evocative survivors of the traditional French pharmacy—beautiful displayed in a bathroom, kitchen, library, curiosity cabinet, or collection of antique medical and apothecary objects.

Dimensions: approximately 7" H x 3" diameter each.

Condition: Good antique condition consistent with age and historic use. No chips or cracks observed in the glass. The enameled cartouches show fading, discoloration and wear, as photographed. Some age-related residue and traces of dust remain inside the bottles. Small bubbles, waviness and irregularities in the glass are inherent to their hand manufacture and add to their character.
Sold as a pair. See less