RARE Antique Victorian Era Apothecary Poison Bottle – Opium -Skull Warning Tag

RARE Antique Victorian Era Apothecary Poison Bottle – Cyrillic Opium (ОПИУМЪ) Label with Skull & Crossbones made for the Bulgarian market c 1880’s.

Item Specifics

• Item Type: Antique Apothecary / Poison Bottle

• Era: Victorian / Late 19th Century

• Material: Glass, 18k gold plated metal-Tone Plaque, Cork

• Dimensions: 7cm (Length)

• Origin: Eastern European / Bulgarian market (Pre-Orthographic Reform Cyrillic)

• Condition: Excellent Antique Condition (See detailed description)

Detailed Item Description

An exceptional and highly collectible antique apothecary poison bottle, measuring exactly 7cm in length. This rare survivor from the Victorian era features a striking and historically significant metal plaque affixed to its glass body, making it a premium addition to any serious medical, apothecary, or antique glass collection.

Visual & Physical Details:

• As shown in photos, the front of the clear, teardrop-shaped glass bottle is adorned with a meticulously crafted gold-tone metal plaque.

• The plaque is embossed with the Cyrillic word “ОТРОВА” (Poison) at the top and “ОПИУМЪ” (Opium) at the bottom, separated by an elegant central flourish.

• Flanking the text are two distinct skull-and-crossbones motifs, serving as a universal and stark warning of the bottle’s lethal contents.

• The reverse side reveals the clear, unblemished glass body and the natural cork stopper, which remains tightly fitted into the neck of the flask. The glass displays a subtle, wavy characteristic typical of antique manufacturing techniques.

Historical Context & Provenance Indicators: This piece offers a fascinating glimpse into late 19th century pharmacology. During the Victorian era, Opium and its derivatives (such as Laudanum) were ubiquitous in medicine, prescribed for everything from pain relief to insomnia. However, its highly toxic and addictive nature required pharmacists to dispense it in specifically marked “poison” bottles to prevent accidental overdoses, particularly in the dark.

Furthermore, the typography on the label provides crucial dating context. The spelling of Opium as “ОПИУМЪ” includes the terminal hard sign (Ъ). This specific orthography was standard in the Cyrillic alphabet prior to the major spelling reforms of the early 20th century (such as the 1945 reform in Bulgaria). This firmly grounds the piece as a genuine, pre-reform antique produced for the Eastern European  market.

Condition Report: The bottle is in remarkable antique condition. The glass is free from chips, cracks, or severe clouding. The metal plaque retains excellent legibility and a beautiful, unpolished antique patina. The cork stopper is present and intact. 

Shipping and Handling

Item will be meticulously packaged with museum-grade protective materials to ensure safe transit. Ships internationally with full tracking and insurance. Please feel free to message with any questions regarding this exceptional piece of medical history.

It comes with an APPRAISAL CERTIFICATE FOR $2000  

If you are not satisfied in 100%,your money back guarantee.

Free shipping to worldwide,fully insured(possible byDHL overnight courier)

NOTE:PLEASE OBSERVE CAREFULLY THE PHOTOS! IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE DESCRIPTION. Every potencial defect which is shown in the photos,but not mention in the description,will be considered for described.All the photos shoot by professional Nikon 105 Macro lens under 40x diopter magnification,so you can explore even the smallest detail like under microscope!