Antique Fennings’ Cooling Powders Cardboard Box

Antique Fennings’ Cooling Powders Cardboard Box – Alfred Fennings, West Cowes, Isle of Wight – Victorian / Edwardian Chemist Packaging

A fascinating piece of antique medical and chemist advertising history, this small cardboard box once contained Fennings’ Cooling Powders for Children Cutting their Teeth, produced by Alfred Fennings of West Cowes, Isle of Wight.

Measuring approximately 6.5cm x 8.5cm x 1cm, the box is beautifully evocative of late Victorian and early Edwardian household remedies, when patent medicines were widely sold through chemists and by post. The front label advertises the powders as being for children “cutting their teeth” and claims they were used to prevent convulsions and to cure fevers, thrush, colds and eruptions. It also includes the reassuring period wording that the powders did not contain Antimony, Calomel, Opium or Morphia, a particularly interesting detail given the concerns around many historic children’s medicines.

Alfred Fennings established his pharmaceutical business in the 19th century and became well known for over-the-counter household remedies. His name became strongly associated with products such as cooling powders, fever cures and other domestic medicines. This example carries the West Cowes, Isle of Wight address, adding further interest for collectors of Isle of Wight history and early pharmacy ephemera.

The sides of the box retain wonderful decorative detail, including the red and black patterned paper wrap and old duty-style wording, including “Duty 1½d” and “No Government Guarantee”. These details help place the box firmly within the world of historic patent medicine packaging, when remedies were heavily advertised and often sold through chemists, postal orders and printed paper packaging.

This is a very collectable small item, ideal for display in a cabinet, curiosity collection, apothecary display, social history collection or vintage chemist’s setting. It is especially appealing as a piece of baby care history, showing how teething and childhood illness were understood and marketed to families over a century ago.

Condition:

The box is empty and sold as a collectable packaging item only. It shows age-related wear throughout, including staining, discolouration, rubbing to the edges and corners, small losses to the paper covering, surface marks and general signs of age and handling. The main printed label remains highly readable and visually striking, with lovely aged character.

Approximate size:

6.5cm x 8.5cm x 1cm

Keywords: antique Fennings cooling powders box, Alfred Fennings West Cowes, Victorian chemist packaging, Edwardian medicine box, antique pharmacy advertising, patent medicine box, children’s teething powder, Isle of Wight chemist, antique medical ephemera, vintage apothecary display, social history collectable.

Please note: This is an empty antique cardboard box offered for collectable and display purposes only. It contains no medicine or usable contents and is not sold for medical use.