Pair of antique enamel pharmaceutical signs

A pair of glazed porcelain plaques, designed to identify the contents of pharmacy or herbalist cabinets. The inscriptions, in an elegant serif typeface, correspond to substances commonly used in traditional pharmacopoeia: quassia amara, a bitter plant used as a digestive tonic, and magnesium carbonate, used notably as an antacid. The side fixings indicate former mounting on drawers or cabinets, and the light patina, along with traces of oxidation around the screw holes, confirms actual use in a pharmacy. The set possesses an authentic charm and a beautiful decorative presence, highly valued in cabinets of curiosities or apothecary settings.

✦ Origin: France
✦ Estimated period: Circa 1900
✦ Dimensions: Approximately 12 x 4 cm each
✦ Material: Glazed porcelain
✦ Condition: Good overall condition, wear from use, slight marks and small oxidations around the fixing holes.

Original and steeped in history, these antique pharmaceutical plaques instantly bring an atmosphere of an old pharmacy or laboratory into a contemporary setting.