November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2021
During the Age of Sail, surgeons would use medical chests like this one aboard ships in order to treat a number of diseases, wounds, and general medical issues that they might encounter at sea. This example appears to have been manufactured by Rushton & Aspinwall, a pair of druggists in New York circa the first quarter of the 19th century; American ships were required to have a chest assembled by "an apothecary of known reputation and accompanied by directions for administering the same" after 1790 and this would certainly fit the bill. 2 folding doors with a lozenge shaped escutcheon on right door housing a simple warded lock mechanism, left door with locking bar on bottom that extends into base. Hepplewhite style carrying handle at top. When opened, each door has 2 shelves that are each partitioned to hold 3 glass bottles, and a small drawer with recessed ring pulls. Left door drawer contains key to door which appears original to chest. Right drawer has a cast lead ball and a small button and a small wooden snuff box with a top label reading "Made of the OAK which formed / part of the original foundations of / OLD STOCKWELL BRIDGE GLASGOW / A structure built by Bishop Rae, / about the Year 1345 in the Reign of / KING DAVID / SON OF ROBERT THE BRUCE / Taken down 1850." 17 glass bottles are in the partitions, with many labeled. Several labels are stained or missing with visible names including paregoric (with note that paregoric was replaced with cornstarch), sirup of squill, powdered bard, ether vitriol, sweet spirits of nitre, spirits of hartshorn, spirit of lavender, tincture of barel, spirit of campuor. Top graduated drawer with 4 porcelain containers of ointments, including Simple ointment, Burgundy pitch, Blistering ointment, and Basilicon Ointment. There is also a pair of "SHEAR STEEL" stamped mixing tools. Bottom drawer with eight additional bottles including Powdered rhubarb, sulphur of quinine, eye essence, Dover's powdered, powdered Ipecac, calomel, and a small paper box marked for Lawrence & Co, with crossed out information on top and a small period piece of paper with "Kellogg's Laboratory" and an address with instructions for 1/2 to 1/4 at bedtime but no information on the prescription. In the drawer is also a small pair of books, one labeled 'COMPANION TO THE FAMILY MEDICINE CHEST" which contains descriptions of the contents and some handwritten notes that are difficult to read but appear to be a reference to the contents either being out of supply or restored; second booklet has lost its cover but appears to be a period fact book with information such as interesting facts, information on political structures, etc. CONDITION: Excellent. Bottles are excellent; one in the graduated drawers with significant cracks and some chips. One other bottle has a significant chip at mouth, and one ointment container has a shattered top that was carefully repaired. Bottles have a wonderful undisturbed patina with some contents having crystallized or evaporated completely. Ointment porcelains have craquelure and some discoloration throughout. Chest is excellent with some handling marks throughout and one horizontal crack on right door. Ring pulls are damaged and must be opened carefully. This is a really well-presenting chest, sure to capture the attention of anyone interested in the Age of Sail. EMW
Item Dimensions: 12X12X7"