Historic Glassware and Rare Faience Reveal 18th Century Pharmacy Practices in the Ruhr Region

Recent research into glass containers and rare faience from the Ruhr area has provided new insights into the relationship between local glassworks and pharmacies during the late 18th century. Several enamel-painted, square glass bottles originating from the Adler Pharmacy in Velbert-Langenberg, a town in the Mettmann district, have been identified as significant artifacts reflecting both regional craftsmanship and pharmaceutical history.

These glass vessels, each featuring a prominent octagonal inscription panel surrounded by decorative bands of large yellow dots with highlights and shading in light yellow and brown, are believed to have been produced between 1780 and 1790. Many of these bottles retain their original ground stoppers, and their early neoclassical style is evident in both their shape and embellishments, supporting their dating to this period.

Comparable glass containers with matching inscription styles and decorative motifs have also been documented in the Buer Pharmacy of Gelsenkirchen. Approximately 20 such artifacts are preserved in various private collections, including the notable Rolf Laufkötter collection in Bad Ems. Similar decorative themes are found among containers from the Löwen Pharmacy in Wuppertal-Cronenberg, where six glass bottles and two wooden containers are held in a museum collection. These pieces include the characteristic yellow-brown beadwork, with additional features such as a crown motif at the top and, at times, a yellow ribbon along the lower edge. The wooden containers reveal multiple layers of overpainting, with the oldest color scheme belonging to the yellow dotted decoration.

In total, more than 30 containers exhibiting nearly identical decorative elements and lettering have been traced to at least three different pharmacies throughout the Rhine-Ruhr region. This suggests the existence of a variable, yet standardized, decorative style for pharmacy vessels originating from a regional glass manufactory, likely based in Essen-Königssteele.

The Adler Pharmacy in Velbert-Langenberg was established in 1698, and it is plausible that a comprehensive refitting of the dispensary was undertaken towards the end of the 18th century. In contrast, the other pharmacies associated with these artifacts, such as those in Gelsenkirchen-Buer and Wuppertal-Cronenberg, were founded in the early 19th century. In these cases, it is probable that the glassware was acquired either as part of a pre-existing collection or purchased second-hand as an ensemble for use in the newly established pharmacies.

This body of evidence highlights the interconnectedness of regional glass production and pharmaceutical practice, illustrating how standardized designs facilitated the supply and reuse of containers across different establishments. The study of these historical vessels not only enriches our understanding of local craftsmanship but also sheds light on the evolving material culture of pharmacy in Germany during a period of significant social and economic change.

Through the examination of these rare glass and faience objects, researchers continue to uncover layers of information about the technological, commercial, and practical aspects of 18th and early 19th-century pharmacy operations in the Ruhr region, providing valuable context for the development of pharmaceutical traditions in central Europe.