logo Museo Galileo - Institute and Museum of the History of Science
  • Interior of the Pharmacy of San Jacopo, Leghorn. At center, counter scale surmounted by a bronze statuette of Mercury.zoom in altra finestra
  • Interior of the Farmacia San Jacopo, Livorno. At center, counter scale surmounted by a bronze statuette of Mercury.zoom in altra finestra

Farmacia San Jacopo [San Jacopo Pharmacy]

Founded in 1842 in Via della Bassata, the pharmacy was transferred in 1859 to its current location in Viale Italia. Its first managers were Drs. Gennari and Marini, pharmacists to the Duke of Aosta. In 1927 the pharmacy was acquired by Dr. Casagni, whose certification to practice the profession can still be seen. In 1959 it was bought by Dr. Rodolfo Lotti.

The pharmacy still has its original furnishings from 1859: a complete set of shelves made of ivory-coloured wood with gold decorations and cabinets with shaped panes of glass; plant motifs in stucco at the four corners of the ceiling, and a central rosette. The pharmacy's collection, dating from the late 18th through the late 19th century, is composed of a full set of ground-glass bottles (some still containing the original preparations), ceramic jars and miscellaneous instrumentation, including a bronze mortar with pestle, a mercury barometer and a counter scale with a bronze statuette of Mercury. In addition to the objects displayed in the pharmacy, there are others kept at the proprietor's residence.

****************************

Texts by Graziano Magrini

English translation by Catherine Frost

Last update 02/gen/2008