Step back into the elegant world of early 20th-century French pharmacy with this beautifully preserved Fructines-Vichy medicinal tin. Produced by the renowned Parisian laboratory A. Pointet, this charming tin once held “bonbons purgatifs” — laxative pastilles designed to ease digestive complaints in a stylishly discreet form.
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The design is classic Belle Époque to early Art Deco, with striking red and cream lithography, ornate fonts, and detailed French text extolling the therapeutic virtues of the Vichy-inspired formula. The name "Vichy" refers to the famous French spa town known for its health-giving mineral waters, aligning the product with notions of natural wellness and refined living.
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This compact tin would have been carried in a handbag or pocket, offering a fashionable yet functional remedy on the go. Today, it makes a wonderful collectible for lovers of vintage French packaging, medical ephemera, or early pharmaceutical history.
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Details:
Origin: France
Maker: A. Pointet, Laboratoire Médico-Pharmaceutique, Paris
Date: Circa 1910s–1930s
Material: Lithographed tin
Condition: Good vintage condition with minor surface wear, light interior oxidation, and bright, readable text
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Dimensions: Approx. 7.5cm x 5cm x 2cm
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Whether displayed on a bathroom shelf, added to a vintage apothecary collection, or gifted to a collector of French curios, this tin is a charming piece of continental history.
