Rare Areca Nut Quack Medicine Tooth Paste Pot and Lid 1885

Genuine Victorian Transfer Printed 

POND’S AMERICAN WHITE

ARECA NUT TOOTH PASTE

Staffordshire, England
c. 1880

This is a fascinating toothpaste pot, circa 1880. It once contained Areca Nut Toothpaste, one of the early varieties of toothpaste used in Britain.  Tooth cleaning first become a hygenic standard in 18th century England, primarily for the upper classes, and was accomplished with a variety of strange tools. Tooth paste began appearing in the 19th century, and was marketed in these beautiful pots beginning in the 1880s, when nearly every chemist or pharmacist began formulating his own recipe and printing their own pots for advertising. 

A popular formulation using ground Areca Nut, which cleaned the teeth with a mild abrasive action. Little did people know, however, that Areca Nut is also an effective deworming agent!

The pot lid and base was made in the Staffordshire district and is transfer printed in black.  This piece was made for export to the American market.

The pot measures 2 3/4 " wide and stands 1 1/2 " tall.  It is in great condition with a teeny glaze flake off the outer rim, base slightly discolored.