Spanish Antique Apothecary Cabinet, ca. 1800s with Original Bottles

2 Piece, C. Hernandez Pardo Zaragoza Farmaceutico Antique Cabinet

Dimensions are 87.5" High X 38" Wide X 18.5" Deep

Belonging to the apothecary on Calle Pilar, number 18 and 19 in Zaragoza, Spain. Owned by Don Conrado Hernandez Pardo. The Pharmacy was open until 1901 when it ceased its activity. It serves as a rare, exceptionally well-preserved window into the region’s traditional pharmaceutical history and local craftsmanship.

• Melis Pine Construction: The cabinet is expertly crafted from Melis pine wood (Pinus sylvestris), a dense, resinous, and durable timber highly prized by Spanish woodworkers in the 1800s. 
• Vibrant Interior Wash: Opening the doors reveals a striking, saturated orange painted interior wash. This color scheme was a common regional trend intended to visually highlight the clear glass jars and dark medicinal liquids against a vibrant background.
• Traditional Spanish Carving: The cabinet is topped with a heavy, elaborate, hand-carved rococo-style crown molding (pediment). It features intricate openwork, scrolls, and a central circular crest.

• Symmetrical Pharmacy Shelving: The upper display portion acts as an open shelving unit framed by two swinging side doors. Every inch of vertical space is utilized with narrow multi-tier shelves specifically designed to fit 19th-century medicine jars without tipping.
• The Lower Drawer Matrix: The lower base contains a rhythmic matrix of 24 uniform square apothecary drawers. These drawers feature turned wooden ring pulls that surround central hand-carved label indents, allowing the original pharmacist to quickly locate loose roots, seeds, and mineral powders. 
• Bulk Storage & Prep Space: The center of the lower section includes a set of four slightly larger square drawers and an open cubby workspace. This area was utilized for grounding materials with a mortar and pestle or housing larger preparation bottles.

• Original Hand-Blown Glass: What makes this specific cabinet incredibly rare is its pristine collection of original, intact blown glass bottles. These containers retain their unique early imperfections, ground glass stoppers, and original paper labels. 
• Functional Diversity: The collection includes a wide assortment of bottle shapes, from tall, slender tincture vials and wide-mouthed powder jars to unique volumetric measuring cylinders. These tools allowed local practitioners in Zaragoza to compound customized raw herbal remedies, elixirs, and oils for their patients on site.