Pharmacy collection

This is a specialised, cross-sectional collection, which is the largest of its kind in Slovakia. The core of the collection was established before 1960, whilst the majority of the items were acquired in the second half of the 20th century. The collection’s chronological scope covers primarily the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century (with some items dating from earlier or later periods). Items documenting the development of pharmacy are included from the earliest times to the present day. Given its nationwide scope, it also includes items originating from outside Bratislava.

What does the collection document?

• Pharmaceutical activity: it focuses primarily on the material aspects of pharmacy and charts the historical development of the pharmacy profession in its entirety.

• Local pharmacists: it contains valuable collections relating to former pharmacies that operated in Bratislava.

• Tangible artefacts: it documents the history of pharmacy through fragments of furniture from historic pharmacies, pharmaceutical instruments, works of art and documents.

Valuable objects of national and international significance:

• Authentic furnishings from the “U červeného raka” pharmacy, which are on display to the public on-site.

• An exceptional collection of containers made from various materials intended for storing medicines, which is of nationwide significance.

• Preserved pharmacy signboards.