Medicine chest
Category
Medical & health
Date
1800 - 1830
Materials
Brass, Glass, Ivory, Mahogany, Metal, Textile
Measurements
343 mm (H); 305 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1338257
Caption
Better safe than sorry - the rich took so much luggage on their tours they had to be accompanied by a train of servants. This large mahogany travelling medicine chest from Snowshill is beautifully inlaid with marquetry designs. The doors open to reveal bottles and boxes of medicines which were mainly to treat tummy upsets, including tinctures of rhubarb and peppermint to calm the digestive system and calcined magnesia, an antacid and laxative. For extreme cases there was tincture of opium, a very strong pain killer.
Summary
Medicine chest, late 17th/ early 18th century. Large mahogany chest with folding doors and heavy swan necked brass carrying handle. The edges of the drawers etc are inlaid with marquetry designs. Doors open to reveal the main central part ; top consists of green lined partitioned rack for five large square bottles, one labelled Tint of Rhubarb, B.Clarke, Chemist, Hackney. Below are three small powder drawers, some ivory knobs missing. Another drawer below designed for scales and weights, contining travelling sovereign balance, probably early 19th century. A large drawer contining two metal boxes, one engraved 'Healing Ointment' and other Blistering Plaster. Also two glass bottles and stoppers. Measuring glass and shipboard pill box present and partitioned areas for two further metal boxes, one bottle, measuring cylinder and mortar and pestle, but all missing. Galleries within each door; Partitioned and lined with green velvet, padded dark green velvet curtain to protect each rack of bottles. Spaces for bottles each side. Compartment at back of chest; Top Layer partitioned for four square bottles, three labelled Cold Drawn Castor Oil, Purified Epsom Salts, Calcined Magnesia. Below bottles are three narrow powder drawers all have covers and ivory knobs.
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.