A George III mahogany medicine chest, retailed by Ireland & Hollier, London, late 18th century

the hinged lid with a label printed Ireland & Hollier, Apothecaries & Chemists, No. 22 Pall Mall. Family Medicine Chests compleat [sic] and Genuine Patent Medicines &c., the top with and each side fitted with compartments, glass bottles and small mortars, scales and weights etc., together with an Edwardian leather travelling medicine case retailed by the Army & Navy Store, circa 1910

Probably acquired by Sir William Forbes, 6th Bt. (1739-1806)

There is a surviving bill probably for another similar chest from Adam Webb, London, 28 August 1786; 'medicine chest' £1-5-0', NLS (Acc.4796/217).

Sir William and Lady Forbes were well travelled, in 1780 the visited Wales and then in 1785 Ireland, NLS (Acc.1796/115). They also made numerous visits to, and small tours of, England. They regularly visited London for work and pleasure catching up with their numerous friends. A visit to Leamington Spa and a prolonged stay in Tunbridge Wells in the June of 1792 was for the curative benefits these spa towns provided, particularly for Lady Forbes who seems to have been regularly unwell and suffering from the births of eight children over a relatively short period of time. A travelling medicine chest with the most up to date remedies would have been a necessity, perhaps more so during their Grand Tour which took a period of just over a year after leaving Tunbridge Wells in the June of 1792 to their return to Edinburgh arriving at 86 George Street on June the 16th 1793. Sir William records in Volume III of his Grand Tour Diaries, NLS (MS1541) on the 20 December in 1792 that in Naples that he has difficulties in acquiring a 'Bark' remedy, he had omitted this from his travelling chest. It is tempting to think that the chest offered here was that which lacked the remedy he so craved for Christmas in Naples.

Mahogany example: Trade label to reverse of lid stained. Residue to glass bottles - which will need to be removed. Some associated components and some lacking, although pretty complete. Old repairs to feet and lower rim. Ivory handles to interior discoloured. Stains from use and wear. Army and Navy example: Wear to leather. Splits to seams. Interior with distress. Old marks and scratches to both objects. Leather case 5.5 cm by 26cm by 17.5cm.
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