From November 21, 2025
THEMATIC EXHIBITION AT THE VICTOR BABEȘ MUSEUM
Cures and Remedies from Old Drugstores and Pharmacies
The Archaeology of Everyday Life in 19th-Century Bucharest
The Bucharest Municipality Museum invites the public to discover the universe of pharmacies and drugstores in old Bucharest. The exhibition brings together archival images, period advertisements, and objects recovered during archaeological excavations, recreating the atmosphere of the places where, in the 19th century, Bucharest residents sought healing and relief.
Archaeological research carried out in Bucharest has uncovered pharmaceutical and cosmetic containers, as well as medical instruments made of ceramic, glass, faience, and porcelain, originating from 19th-century pharmacies and drugstores. Typically located in central areas, near the busiest commercial streets, these shops stood out through their street-facing display windows, where elegantly packaged products were showcased to attract passersby. Their façades and walls were often covered with painted signs or printed posters, helping to shape a distinct visual identity for each drugstore and pharmacy.
Liquid preparations, powders, pills, or ointments sold in pharmacies or drugstores were stored in simple containers made of glass, ceramic, or porcelain, bearing paper labels that provided information about the contents and instructions for use. Although most labels have not survived, some packaging still displays the name of the manufacturer or the product—details meant to ensure authenticity and prevent counterfeiting. The discovered materials represent a valuable source of information, revealing essential aspects of public health, commercial dynamics, and daily life in Bucharest during that period. Some objects could be linked to specific pharmacies or drugstores, either based on the archaeological context in which they were found or through identifying provenance marks and manufacturer labels preserved on the items.
These archaeological findings evoke a familiar, everyday universe in which remedies and cures enjoyed considerable popularity, illustrating a time when the fear of illness and the absence of modern medical resources deeply influenced the daily lives of Bucharest’s inhabitants. These tonic beverages, healing powders, vitality syrups, ointments, and elixirs were often made from plant extracts dissolved in alcohol and sweetened with sugar. Although many of them lacked scientific basis, they were heavily promoted in the press and through street advertisements, fueling hope for relief and capturing the public’s curiosity. Some proved genuinely effective, others only deceptively so, but all reveal a story about people’s faith in the power of healing and their desire to find remedies for everything—from simple headaches and digestive problems to serious conditions such as tuberculosis, cystitis, or venereal diseases.
Curators:
Dr. Elena Gavrilă
Dr. Raluca-Iuliana Moței