Title
Cobalt Blue Apothecary Bottle
Image
Description
This small cobalt blue apothecary bottle likely dates from the late 19th to early 20th century. Its rich color wasn’t simply decorative—cobalt glass was specifically chosen to protect light-sensitive contents such as silver nitrate, iodine tinctures, or caustic compounds from UV degradation. The bottle features a rounded lip and machine-made mold seams, suggesting commercial pharmaceutical production during the early industrial packaging era.
Despite its plain surface—no embossing or labeling—it speaks volumes about the era’s cautious storage of volatile or light-sensitive medications. The use of cobalt also served as a visual warning: blue often implied poison, danger, or controlled substances.
Condition
Excellent vintage condition. Surface wear consistent with age. No visible chips or cracks. Lip shows minor roughness.
Gallery
Historical context
Excellent vintage condition. Surface wear consistent with age. No visible chips or cracks. Lip shows minor roughness. You can view more historic medical items in Dr. Bebout’s Cabinet of Medical Curiosities.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Cobalt was not cheap—this choice indicated valuable or dangerous contents.
Some collectors refer to this shade as “poison bottle blue.”
Often reused by pharmacists, bottles like this were cleaned, re-corked, and reissued.
Excerpt
A vivid cobalt bottle that likely carried an intense remedy or a subtle danger.
Why it is in the Cabinet
This unassuming bottle is one of the most visually striking in the collection. The blue hue grabs the eye—and in its day, may have warned the hand.
See also: Diagnostics of the Fundus Oculi | Therapeusis of Internal Diseases
"