An antique turned wooden medical flask, designed for the inhalation of medicinal substances, composed of three separate screwed-together parts. The main body served as a reservoir for a solid or liquid preparation (salts, crystals, camphorated substances, or the absorbed product). The intermediate part, pierced with a small axial orifice, allowed the controlled passage of air and vapors, while the stopper ensured closure and limited evaporation when not in use. This type of inhaler flask was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for respiratory ailments, general discomfort, or aromatic medicinal preparations, before the widespread adoption of industrial devices made of glass or plastic.
✦ Origin: France ✦ Estimated period: Circa 1890-1910 ✦ Dimensions: Approximately 7.5 x 2.5 cm ✦ Material: Turned wood (boxwood) ✦ Condition: Good antique condition, even patina from use, slight traces and marks of wear
An antique medical object representative of Belle Époque inhalation accessories, sought after for an antique medicine collection, a cabinet of curiosities or a display case of historical therapeutic instruments.
