The Origins of Apothecary Bottles
The word apothecary originates from the Latin “apotheca”, meaning storehouse. By the 16th century, it was commonly used as a term for someone who formulated and dispensed medicines. Many apothecary jars bore Latin inscriptions of their content and they were used for both storage and display purposes.
Production and Materials
Throughout most of the 19th century apothecary bottles were functional products made by skilled glassblowers, using traditional techniques and they were decorated using cold-painted application where motifs were applied to the glass with paint and protected by a thin layer of varnish. However by the late 19th century this technique had become too laborious for the large scale production of medicines which came about with the Industrial Revolution. Although glass pharmacy bottles continued to be produced until after World War II, they were eventually replaced by plastic.
Decorative Appeal in Interirors
The bottles were made from fairly lightweight glass, and usually had a narrow neck and mouth, which facilitated pouring and they often had a cork stopper to limit evaporation. Bottles with wide-brimmed, loose-fitting stoppers were preferred for syrups as the stoppers were loose enough not to become sticky yet keep out the dust. Pharmacy bottles were produced in amber, aqua, olive, green and cobalt blue with the darker colours most useful for protecting the medicines from light damage, green eventually became associated with poison. Amber glass was often being used for delicate and perishable chemicals, such as mercury and white opaque glass was used for liquids which needed to stay cool.
It is their brightly coloured appearance which adds to the charm, curiosity and collectability of these bottles, and they are very popular decorative antiques in today’s market. At Mist Antiques and Decorative Interiors I have had several sets in the past but a particular favourite are my current two sets. With their wonderful original Latin hand written porcelain labels they are wonderful antique decorative items - eye-catching and distinctive. Displayed on a window ledge, the emerald green shimmers and sparkles drawing the eye immediately towards them. They would be equally as successful antique decorative accessories used in a bathroom or living room, and will certainly bring warmth and sparkle to any interior. Shop the Decorative/Ceramic & Glass page to discover a good selection of interesting and decorative glass.