Featured Apothecary Cabinet c 1820

This cabinet was chosen as the front cover illustration on Anne Young’s definitive book “Antique Medicine Chests” and although not exactly the same nor as complete it is still a very rare and collectable example. It has a hidden compartment at the rear accessed by a catch inside the right hand front interior. The date of this example is earlier than the example stated above (c 1820) and all the contents are original to the chest as is the condition without any restoration or added contents that I know about.

 

Hi,
It is a beautiful piece!!!
greg

 

I could make it look a lot better but I'm in two minds to leave it original

 

Oh that is cool!

I'd just wipe the wood down with Howard's to cover the scratches.


What's in the bottom? Does it slide up?

 

I love things like this !

 

I have given it some wax but I could refinish it with shellac. The panel slides off to the side (visible in photos)

 

I do as well, they don't really have any aesthetic value but they are a real glimpse into the past social history.

 

Yes, I saw that.
I thought there might have been two extra hidden compartments on either side of the drawers. Realize now that the two drawers take up that bottom space.
I was looking at the 4th picture wrong. Sometimes the old brain gives an inaccurate reading.

 

Old brain here as well lol

 

Love that it still has the glass mortar & pestle. A beauty!

 

Wow that is cool! Thanks for sharing. Long time ago before I could indulge a bit in nicer antiques I saw a sweet Parke Davis Apothecary Cabinet filled with hundreds of tin specimen tins at an estate auction. It sold for really good money but I think it was well worth the investment as each of those tins sell for a pretty penny individually. Wish I could find a nice one these days, I'd be bidding.

 

@$3120 this was still a great buy, a bit beyond my pocket but what a great investment. The one above is about 1820 with bottles instead of tins but what lovely tins https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/parke-davis-co-apothecary-cabinet-and-specimen-tins-164701

 

The one I remember was a bit different but was really neat with all of the cubbies holding the specimen tins. I think it sold for around $1400. The auctioneer didn't have any online bidding so I suspect all traces of it on the internet are gone. Those specimen tins sell really well individually based what I've seen on eBay. I've been to a few of Wes Cowan's sales, they have really good stuff.

There was a doctors estate up at auction about a year ago in a town about two hours from my home. Wasn't able to attend but it would have been worthwhile just to preview the items and watch the bidding. So many neat medical related items like scales, tools, and the old examination tables/chairs!

 

One day I'll put all of my medical collection on here when I can get round to taking photos but a word of caution, the larger a piece is (unless fantastic) the less collectors go for it. Do you collect medical pieces?

 

I have some medical bottles and tins. I collect a little bit of everything if it looks cool.

 

Ohhh, thanks for sharing this. It looks very nice with all of those bottles lined up inside.