Mahogany medicine chest, upright form with two front doors opening up to reveal compartments holding medicine-filled mold-blown square bottles with paper labels and glass stoppers. Right door fitted with locking key. Interior of chest proper has additional medicine compartments and two lower drawers with ivory pulls, containing tools: a suspension balance with copper pans, a bone spoon and two tweezers, one ornate and commercially made. Finally there is a blown glass mortar and pestle.
Most compartments contain bottles of medicines and poison. A large brass bail-type handle at chest top for carrying.
Upper panel on reverse slids sideways to reveal more large bottles with medicine. Inscription on paper pasted to inside is handwritten: "This Medicine Chest / ----aid to grandfather / ------tah, and has been / ----e in his family / 1810." Additional handwritten note pasted to side of front left door reads: " Property of John F. Heinitsh since 1810." Paper labels are printed with the name Charles A. Heinitsh of 16 E. King St. and sometimes 13 E. King St. (16 E. King was a later location). A long thin rod behind the inner top left hinge slides through upper right side to engage a hole in sliding panel, thus securing closure.
Provenance
John Frederick Heinitsh (1792-1858) is the father of Charles A. Heinitsh (1822-1898), both druggists. John apprenticed with his older brother Augustus, eventually partnering with him until 1818 when he bought the business and moved to 33-34 E. King St. In 1841 he moved to 13 E. King and partnered with his son Charles as John F. Heinitsh & Son. In 1849, Charles purchased the store and led a long and distinguished career as druggist. Business moved to 16 E. King St. between 1869 & 1871.
Photo # 1-01-01-87 is a carte de visite of Charles Augustus Heinitsh.
