Medicine Chest

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Object Details

Description: This small wooden drug chest has a hinged lid with a bale handle and two hinged side compartments. The exterior of the chest is embellished with metal straps, hinges, and incised stylized flowers. Inside are four drawers with stamped pewter knobs and three compartments for bottles. The chest and drawers are lined with marbled paper. All of the bottles are blown and molded glass. Five of the bottles have pewter caps, and two have glass stoppers. The four pewter containers have pewter caps. One drawer is filled with a white powder.; By the 18th century medicine chest of this type had become more or less standardized and available to the general population. They were used in the home as well as for travel over land and on the water. The Deutsche Apotheken Museum has a similar but slightly larger medicine chest in their collection which is illustrated in Das Deutsche Apotheken Museum, figure 256.
Location: Currently not on view

Credit Line: Gift of American Pharmaceutical Association and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

18th century

Physical Description: wood (overall material); glass (overall material); paper (overall material); metal (overall material)
Measurements: overall: 20.5 cm x 17.5 cm x 16 cm; 8 1/16 in x 6 7/8 in x 6 5/16 in; overall, chest: 6 1/2 in x 6 7/8 in x 6 3/8 in; 16.51 cm x 17.4625 cm x 16.1925 cm

Related Publication: Urdang, George and Ferdinand William Nitardy. The Squibb Ancient Pharmacy: A Catalogue of the Collection; Das Deutsche Apotheken-Museum

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine; Health & Medicine; European Apothecary; Art

National Museum of American History

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-edcc-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa