Collection of pharmacy containers, 19th century–early 20th century

Collection of pharmaceutical containers and packaging, 19th century–first third of the 20th century.
Clear, opal, and colored glass; metal, cork, paper, and cardboard.
Various measurements.

An interesting and extensive collection of antique pharmacy and laboratory containers, consisting of bottles, vials, jars, and small containers intended for the storage and dispensing of medicinal substances and chemical preparations.
The collection features a remarkable variety of shapes, capacities, and glass colors, including clear, opaline, green, cobalt blue, and amber pieces. Many pieces retain their original closures—made of cork, glass, or metal—as well as handwritten, printed, or painted labels, some of which belong to Spanish and European laboratories and pharmaceutical establishments.
Among the preserved labels are names of products historically used in medical and pharmaceutical practice, such as zinc oxide, boric acid, quinine, pure strychnine, opium, antimony sulfide, pyrogallic acid, and dragon’s blood, among others. The presence of labels in different languages, together with the diversity of commercial and apothecary containers, documents the international circulation of medicines, drugs, and reagents at the turn of the century.
Beyond its decorative appeal, the collection serves as a fascinating testament to the history of modern pharmacy, medicine, and chemistry, evoking the atmosphere of old apothecaries and laboratories. The joint preservation of containers of different origins, materials, and functions lends it special value as a historical and collectible collection.