Vintage Apothecary Bottle Value Guide

Vintage Apothecary Glass Bottle w/Stopper T.C.W. Co USA Wheaton 7" tall | eBay
Vintage Apothecary Bottle
Estimated Value
$75 – $120
Period
1920-1940
Origin
United States
Materials
Glass

This vintage apothecary bottle represents the precision of early 20th-century American pharmaceutical practice, featuring the iconic ground glass stopper designed for an airtight seal. These vessels are highly collectible as tangible links to the era of hand-compounded remedies and laboratory medicine between 1920 and 1940.

What Is Vintage Apothecary Bottle Worth?

The typical price range for Vintage Apothecary Bottle is $75 - $120 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

  • The presence of the original, matching ground glass stopper significantly impacts the $75-$120 value range.
  • Overall glass clarity and the absence of 'sick glass' clouding or chemical etching from previous contents.
  • Structural integrity, specifically looking for chips or 'fleabites' around the delicate ground glass joints.
  • Historical provenance or specific embossed markings that link the bottle to a particular laboratory or pharmacy.

How to Identify Vintage Apothecary Bottle?

  • Check for a precision-ground frosted finish on both the stopper base and the inner neck of the bottle.
  • Verify the clear glass clarity and thickness consistent with United States manufacturing from the 1920-1940 era.
  • Look for a snug, airtight fit when the stopper is inserted, a hallmark of functional laboratory-grade glassware.
  • Examine the base for period-accurate glass molding marks or maker's symbols typical of early 20th-century production.

History of Vintage Apothecary Bottle

Apothecary bottles like this one were essential in pharmacies and laboratories from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. Their ground glass stoppers provided an airtight seal, crucial for preserving the integrity of chemicals, medicines, and tinctures. These bottles are a tangible link to a time when pharmacists compounded remedies by hand.

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