Medicine chest
1780-1830
Wood, brass, glass, pewter
Overall: 7 1/4 × 7 1/2 × 7 1/4 in. (18.4 × 19.1 × 18.4 cm)
INV.8701a
A piece of paper accompanying the medicine chest includes instructions, handwritten in Italian, for mixing various remedies.
DescriptionSquare wooden medicine chest with domed, hinged lid, brass floral mounts with bail handle on top of chest, and overlapping strap hinges with scalloped edges; applied decoration on front of chest consists of four floral mounts and two scalloped escutcheons, one with working lock; lid lifts to reveal total of fifteen small compartments, seven in center section and four in each swinging section; front half of chest divided into two sections, closed with latch, which swing out and back to be almost parallel with back section; bottom section of interior houses full-length drawer with ivory pull, back section with two half drawers and one full-length drawer under compartments, with ivory pulls, drawer under each swinging section with ivory pull; fronts of three sets of compartments fitted with pieces of wood with arches cut out; contains eleven colorless blown glass bottles with corks and pewter caps, and four pewter canisters with short finials; key included.ClassificationsMEDICAL TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
