Antique Turned Wood Apothecary Box | ASSAFOETIDA Printed Label | Old Resin Still Inside | Druggist Pill Box | Late 1800s-Early 1900s | 2.5"
$52.00
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Every piece is hand-selected, cleaned, and described using over 20 years of vintage experience. When a listing says a piece is vintage, it is vintage. If an item isn't as described, I'll refund you in full, including shipping.
Vintage Condition
Every piece here is pre-loved and often decades old, so expect gentle signs of age and use, like light scratches, softened plating or finish, small marks, or patina. That's part of each piece's history and charm, and nothing will look fresh off a showroom floor.
Anything beyond normal wear, such as chips, cracks, repairs or damage, is always pointed out in the description and shown in the photos. If an item arrives with a flaw I didn't mention, my return policy has you covered.
Return Policy
Changed your mind? Contact me within 30 days of delivery. Items must be returned unworn, in the packaging they were shipped in, and securely packed. Buyer pays return shipping unless the item was not as described. Refunds are issued to your original payment method within 5 business days of receiving the item.
Damaged in transit: Photograph the item and packaging and email me within 5 days of delivery, and I will refund your purchase, including shipping. Photos must show the actual item and packaging as received.
Contact: hello@oddlydarlingvintage.com
Shipping
Ships from Sebring, Florida, within 1–3 business days. Every piece is packed carefully to arrive safely.
Antique Turned Wood Apothecary Box | ASSAFOETIDA Printed Label | Old Resin Still Inside | Druggist Pill Box | Late 1800s-Early 1900s | 2.5"
$52.00
Meet what was once the stinkiest thing on a pharmacy shelf. This antique turned wood apothecary box still wears its original printed paper label, ASSAFŒTIDA, spelled the old Latin pharmacy way with the joined Œ. And yes, there are still dark lumps of old resin inside.
Asafoetida (say it "ass-uh-FET-ih-duh") is a dried gum resin from a giant fennel-like plant. Fresh, its smell was so strong it earned the nickname "devil's dung." Druggists sold it for colic, gas, coughs and "hysteria," and people hung little bags of it around their necks to ward off colds, especially during the 1918 flu. Cooks in India still use a pinch today, where it tastes a lot like onion and garlic.
Good news for your nose: after all these years, the resin in this box has mellowed completely. The famous stink is gone, and it now has only a light, pleasant, earthy aroma.
The lathe-turned wooden box with a printed paper band is the classic druggist's style of the late 1800s and early 1900s. A wonderful piece for an apothecary shelf, a curiosity cabinet, a collection of medical antiques or anyone who loves a good weird-history story.
Please note: The resin inside is sold as part of the antique, for display only. It is not for eating or any medical use.
Condition: Good antique condition with honest age. The paper label is chipped and has small losses, and it has split along the seam where the lid meets the base. The wood shows wear, darkening and spots, with a small handwritten mark near one end of the label. The lid lifts off and fits back on. Please see all photos.
Details:
- Material: Turned wood with a printed paper label
- Size: about 2.5" across x 1.5" tall
- Label: ASSAFŒTIDA
- Contents: old asafoetida resin pieces (display only); no bad odor, just a light earthy scent
- Era: likely late 1800s to early 1900s
- Condition: Good antique; label chips and split, wear to the wood
Styling props shown in photos are not included.
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