Pharmacy Antiques
Rare early advertising reverse painted sign for Hendries Perfumery.
Enamel sign for Thorley’s food
In 1617 the apothecaries separated from the Grocer’s Company to form the Society of Apothecaries: a Livery Company of the City of London, which is still in existence today. They gave advice and supplied medicines to patients who could not afford to consult a physician. During the 18th century they tended to split to become either general practitioners and those who dispensed medicines.
In 1815 the right to buy. compound, dispense and sell drugs and medicines was established by an Act of Parliament. In 1841 the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was formed and a register of chemists, druggists and students was set up.
Early chemist shops had windows made up of small panes of glass and were used as extra storage shelving holding containers of drugs. The labelling made these bottles quite attractive and alerted passersby as to the nature of the shop. In the 1830s plate glass was introduced and this allowed large displays of products. Over time decorative carboys and specie jars were displayed in the windows to attract customers.
The diverse nature of the items sold and used in the preparation and sale of medicines is represented in the items displayed on this page.
Childrens free toy giveaway Owlbridges Tonic
Keating's Lozenges framed show-card 1890s
Modern Ross Sons bears grease mirror
Laxettes rubberoid advertising figure 1930-40s
Low & Son pearlware bears grease advertising figure
Royal Doulton advertising figure
Apothecary Pill Tile
Large apothecary cobalt tincture bottle
Samuel Alcock Tamarind Jar
Samuel Alcock Tamarind jar
Samuel Alcock Honey jar
Samuel Alcock Honey jar
Rare jade glass pharmacy round
Early free blown apothecary bottle with gilt label
Thomas Holloway Invincible Embrocation medicine bottle
Opium pipe bowl
Pair of poison skull corkscrews
Milton sepia print inhaler
Torbocks inhaler
Rare pearlware "Gibson" type medicine spoon
Slippery Elm tin.
Hockin's Acme inhaler
The Bedford inhaler
Fisher's Seaweed Extract bottle
Sandwich glass bears grease jar
Allen's Foot Rot ointment jar
Advertising beaker Skinetolin Sterilizing Fluid
Early crude leech jar Dr Henry T
Wigan advertising feed cup Aspinall
Advertising Thorley's Food cup
Thorley's Food advertising food measure
Advertising Feed cup
McKenzie's essence bottle
Ceramic rectal ointment applicator
Pritchard's Horse and Cattle Panacea stoneware bottle
Garantisept disinfectant advertising cup
Thorley's Food measure
Sandwich Glass bears grease pomade jar
Treen stacking pill box
Turlington's pontilled bottle
Maw's London Ceramic Jar
Robin Talc tin with associated advertising
Large blue Lysol poison bottle
Daffy's cure bottle
Daffy's cure bottle
Rare Seniors and Tilly Perth Dugong lard bottle
Olympic mini first aid tin including snake bite treatment
Children's chamber pot
Glass mortar and pestle
Stoneware Ferguson's Arsenate of Lead jar
Potter's Asthma powder (burnt and smoke inhaled)
