sealed glass bottle of Alizarine BX Paste
Date: circa 1885
Inventory Number: 4571
Classification: Chemical
Subject:
Maker: Friedrich Bayer & Company (founded 1863)
User: Chemistry Laboratory, Harvard College (founded 1850)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
12 x 4 x 4 cm (4 3/4 x 1 9/16 x 1 9/16 in.)
Material:
Description:
Class B chemical. Cylindrical glass bottle with silver cap that screws on to the neck of the bottle, containing Alizarine BX Paste, an artifical mordant dyestuff used for cotton, wool, and silk.
Signedprinted in red on white label: FARBENFABRIKEN / VORM. FR. BAYER & CO. / ELBERFORD.
Inscribedstamped in black across the label: Manufactured in Germany
printed in black on the white label: Alizarine BX Paste
printed in white on red label near base of bottle: 0615
raised stamp on bottle lid: FARBENFABRIKEN / VORM FR. BAYER & Cie. ELBERFELD
raised glass on back of bottle: FARBENFABRIKEN / VORM FR. BAYER & CO. / ELBERFELD.
printed in black on beige label along bottom of bottle: Vor dem Gebrauch umzuschütten. / Shake the bottle before using. / Bien rumuer avant l'emploi.
printed in black on the white label: Alizarine BX Paste
printed in white on red label near base of bottle: 0615
raised stamp on bottle lid: FARBENFABRIKEN / VORM FR. BAYER & Cie. ELBERFELD
raised glass on back of bottle: FARBENFABRIKEN / VORM FR. BAYER & CO. / ELBERFELD.
printed in black on beige label along bottom of bottle: Vor dem Gebrauch umzuschütten. / Shake the bottle before using. / Bien rumuer avant l'emploi.
FunctionFor the dyeing of textiles.
Webster's 1913 Unabridged: "Alizarin n. (Chem.) A coloring principle, C14H6O2(OH)2, found in madder, and now produced artificially from anthracene." Alizarin was the first natural dyestuff (originally from madder root) prepared artifically from the coal-tar product anthracene (1868).
Webster's 1913 Unabridged: "Alizarin n. (Chem.) A coloring principle, C14H6O2(OH)2, found in madder, and now produced artificially from anthracene." Alizarin was the first natural dyestuff (originally from madder root) prepared artifically from the coal-tar product anthracene (1868).
Curatorial RemarksThe bottle bears the label used by the Chemical Laboratory of Harvard University.