The items in this acquisition are ordinary household objects which belonged to a woman who lived in the same house in a Sydney suburb all her married life. She lived to be 94 and when she grew older was fond of sharing anecdotes about her childhood and younger years with her relatives. This allowed her daughter, the donor of this collection, to provide stories that give depth and meaning to a number of these otherwise relatively ordinary domestic objects.

The Gentian Violet was manufactured by Washington H Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd in Australian between 1950 and 1970.

Gentian Violet is a purple dye which was used as a topical antiseptic for wounds and infections.

Medicine bottle, 'Gentian Violet', medicinal solution (evaporated) / glass / plastic / paper, made by Washington H Soul Pattinson & Co Ltd, Australia, [1950-1970]

A brown glass bottle with a black plastic screw-on lid. A paper label is adhered to the bottle and has text reading ''Not to be taken, Gentian Violet 2%, Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co. Ltd, Sydney & Newcastle, 1 Fl. oz'. The solution in this bottle has evaporated leaving a thick purple crust.

Made: Washington H Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd; Australia; 1950 - 1970

Text inscribed on paper label adhered to body of bottle, printed in red "NOT TO BE TAKEN / GENTIAN VIOLET / 2% / WASHINGTON H. SOUL / PATTINSON & CO. LTD. / SYDNEY & NEWCASTLE / 1 FL. OZ."
Text inscribed on body of bottle, moulded into glass "NOT TO BE TAKEN".
Inscription on underside of base, moulded into glass "C M (within mark) / IS. 849 / 5".

2003/132/1

1950 - 1970

76 mm

34 mm