Title
Pink porcelain lidded apothecary jar for storing boric acid
Year/Period
Early 20th century
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Object size: 26.5 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm
Accession No.
2018-00090
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of the late Mrs Grace Lim nee Oh Kim Neo and her family
This porcelain lidded jar was used to contain boric acid, as the gilded label on the jar indicates. Boric acid was used as a mild antiseptic, eyewash and even as an insecticide. Sealed apothecary jars, either glass or ceramic, were widely used by chemists or pharmacists to store herbs, medicines, syrups and liquids, and were displayed on shelves of pharmacies, making them visible to customers. This jar belonged to a local Western pharmacy, United Pharmacy, which started operation in the early 20th century along North Bridge Road, and went on for over 70 years before closing its doors in December 1984.
