top of page

Elixir waters date from the 1600’s and were still to be available in various guises three hundred years later. A level of lingering sympathetic magic applied to pharmacology still existed in the 18th century, the belief that nature had hidden clues to medically effective drugs in their resemblances to the human body and its parts; for example walnut shells might be good for skull fractures due to their visual semblance. Henceforth Elixir water resonated as the elixir of life, or elixir of immortality as sought by alchemists. This level of occultism, exortericism and mystery was deemed desirable in medicinal advertising of the time including profound claims about the medicines potency to cure all ailments, hence the origin of the term ‘cure alls’. Habijah Savage, apothecary of Boston served of the Boston Board of Selectmen from 1715-1718, the governing board for the town of Boston from the 17th century until 1822.

 

 

Habijah Savage’s Elixir Water. Medcine Bottle Wooden Plaque

$30.00Price
  • All bottles are cast from original 18th and 19th century bottles and jars, and are aged to inclde all the wonderful imperfections and aged quality of handbuilt pottery of the period. The wood used on this plaque is antique salaved wood, and is hung with twine. The label is original ofgraveconcern artwork based upon historical medical advertising.
    Size 3.5" x 4.5"
     

  • Free Shipping

bottom of page