Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917 and Shackleton-Rowett Quest Expedition, 1921-1922

Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (manufacturers). No. 250 'Tabloid' Brand Medicine Chest

细节

Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917 and Shackleton-Rowett Quest Expedition, 1921-1922
Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (manufacturers). No. 250 'Tabloid' Brand Medicine Chest
A Japanned sheet-metal (overpainted) medicine chest, with hinged lid in two sections, each section with enclosed compartment with flap lid, one lid with applied metal brand label of Burroughs Wellcome & Co., parcel gilt metal edge reinforcements and straps, brass lock, the front with legend 'SHACKLETON ROWETT EXPEDITION 1921' lettered by hand in red paint, woth traces of overpainted legend beneath 'IMP[ERIAL TRANS-ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION]', 15¾ x 10½ x 8¼in. (40 x 27 x 20.4cm.)

来源

Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917.
Shackleton-Rowett Expedition, 1921-1922.
Alexander Hepburne Macklin (1889-1967), and thence by descent; sale Christie's, 25 Sept. 2001, lot 197 (where acquired by the present owner).

拍品专文

We are grateful to Mrs Eileen Maughan, Archives Assistant, Heritage Archives, GlaxoSmithKline, for confirming that the present model, no 250 (for which see the Burroughs Wellcome & Co Price List of 1913, p. 47) was ordered by the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917. The chest is visible in Hurley's photograph of Ocean Camp and Macklin lists '1 Japanned Metal Medicine Case' as being part of their salvaged gear in his manuscript journal. A relic of the Endurance expedition, the chest was re-used on the Quest expedition. Repainted for the latter (its present state), it is probably the ''Tabloid' Congo Medicine Chest/Refitted to instructions' that features in Macklin's order to Burroughs Wellcome & Co (index no SW 292) of 18 August 1921 (included in the Quest papers). The 1913 Price List describes the case and original contents: 'Made of Japanned Sheet-steel. Contains six 5oz. and thirty 3oz. glass stoppered bottles of 'Tabloid', 'Soloid' and other fine products of B.W. & Co., in movable teak wood tray. The lid (in two sections) is arranged to hold supplies of dressings, bandages, minor surgical instruments, and other accessories. Weight, about 40lb. ... This chest, and No. 251, are the standard equipments for large expeditions and stations.'

The present medicine chest would have been used by Macklin on Elephant Island as they waited to be rescued by Shackleton, Worsley listing another '"medicine chest" - a small sledging outfit of Burroughs & Wellcome' (for which see sale, Christie's London, 25 Sept 2001, lot 196) amongst the gear taken on the James Caird to South Georgia (F.A. Worsley, Shackleton's Boat Journey, London, 1999, p.99)