Antique Chemist Bottle – “Glycerin” – F.W. Sturges Ltd, The Rexall Pharmacy
What a lovely piece of chemist history, — the survival of that paper label is especially nice. Bottles like this often lost their labels entirely, so having even a partial one adds real character and collectability.
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16 cm tall
6 cm wide
4 cm depth
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Displayed with other bottles for sale separately not included illustration only
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Antique Chemist Bottle – “Glycerin” – F.W. Sturges Ltd, The Rexall Pharmacy, Leicester
A wonderful example of an early 20th-century chemist’s bottle complete with its original aged paper label and cork stopper. The bottle once held Glycerin, a common pharmaceutical ingredient used historically in medicines, cosmetics, and medicinal preparations.
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The label reads:
“Glycerin – F.W. Sturges Ltd – Chemists – The Rexall Pharmacy – 44 Market Place, Leicester.”
This surviving label gives the bottle a fantastic sense of provenance, connecting it directly to a specific pharmacy in Leicester. The label has beautifully aged over time with partial loss and toning that adds to its authentic antique character.
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The bottle itself is made from light aqua-tinted glass, typical of early 20th-century pharmaceutical bottles. It retains its original cork stopper, which has naturally darkened with age. The base carries a mould mark, likely a manufacturer’s code used by the glassworks that produced the bottle for chemists.
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Pieces like this were once a familiar sight behind the counters of chemist shops, where pharmacists dispensed medicines and ingredients individually.
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About F.W. Sturges Ltd
F.W. Sturges Ltd operated The Rexall Pharmacy in Market Place, Leicester during the early 20th century. The Rexall name comes from the Rexall drugstore brand, a well-known pharmaceutical retail system that originated in the United States in the early 1900s and spread internationally. Pharmacies adopting the Rexall branding were part of a wider network selling medicines, remedies, and pharmaceutical ingredients.
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Local chemists such as F.W. Sturges would prepare and dispense medicines on site, storing ingredients like glycerin in labelled bottles like this one. Surviving examples provide a fascinating glimpse into the working world of historic pharmacies.
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Condition
Good antique condition.
Original paper label partially intact with age-related wear and loss
Natural toning and ageing to the label
Original cork stopper present with patina from age
Light surface marks and internal residue consistent with age and use
These signs of age are entirely consistent with an authentic antique chemist bottle and add to its historical charm.
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Measurements
(Approximate)
Height: ~20 cm
Diameter: ~8 cm
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Why We Love It
This bottle feels like a small survivor from a vanished world — when medicines were carefully measured out behind the wooden counters of local chemists. The fragile paper label and original cork capture a moment in time from an early Leicester pharmacy.
A wonderful display piece for collectors of pharmacy antiques, apothecary bottles, or vintage medical history.
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Display Ideas
Perfect for:
Apothecary cabinet displays
Vintage bathroom styling
Pharmacy or medical history collections
Curiosity cabinets
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Note: Sold as a vintage display piece only. Not intended for food or pharmaceutical use.
