Poison bottles are among the most desirable of antique glass bottles because of their unique shapes, bright colors and characteristic markings. The reason for this is practical, to lower the high number of accidental poisonings. There was a transatlantic agreement, which determined that bottles containing dangerous substances would be put in colored glass. This helped, but was not enough. The newly discovered molded glass technique allowed for unique shapes like the coveted skull and coffin shape, lattice work and raised dots. These tactile markers would have ensured if you were illiterate or unable to see in the candle light that you wouldn’t accidentally consume something dangerous. This wasn’t only for things like rat poison and insect repellant. Many medicines of the 19th century were also poisonous. Arsenic, atropine and strychnine could all be acquired at the local pharmacy. The rarest design, the coffin shape has sold for thousands of dollars! #poisonbottle #poisonhistory #toxicology #poisonpath #veneficium #poisonersapothecary #poisonbottles #victorianpoisonbottle #momentomori #victorianera #historyofpoison (These photos are not mine and are for demonstration only) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKpYxZhHZT1/?igshid=1xdgnxbprp3ym
