19th Century Dutch Medical Apothecary Pharmacy Turned Boxwood Treen Pill Gilder
Date: 19th Century
PRICE: $ 900
Dimensions: H 20cm Diameter 8cm
Shipping: $50
19th Century antique medical apothecary pharmacy turned treen boxwood pill gilder.
Egg or aubergine shaped boxwood turned lidded cup on a stand.
The cup and stand are made from one piece of wood, so is the lid with knob.
Pill silverers or gilders were used throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th century to finish pills with a silver or gold coating. The pharmacist would coat the pills with a liquid, placed them inside the pill gilder, filled it with silver or gold leaf or silver or gold powder, put the lid on and he would shake and spun until the pills where coated with a nice layer of silver or gold.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th century it was believed that a medicine worked better if it was coated with gold or silver. Of course, only wealthy customers could afford this expensive way of coating pills to camouflage the bitter taste of the medicine.
This nicely shaped pharmaceutical piece would make a great addition in a curiosity cabinet or a medical antiques collection.
For all inquiries and shipping quotes send me an email on: zuskorsten@gmail.com
