Apothecary Show Globe

Similar to the mortar and pestle, show globes were historically used as symbols for apothecaries and pharmacists. Typically, they are clear glass vessels filled with colorful liquid and displayed in apothecary shop windows.

One of the most common myths surrounding show globes depicts the colorful liquid in the vessels as a warning to travelers. Red liquid signaled to the traveler to avoid the town due to a plague or quarantine, while green liquid signaled that all was well.

Most historians though agree that the show globes were used solely for attracting customers and as a sign of the profession. The globes were able to solve two major problems facing early apothecaries namely the dark narrow streets of large cities and illiteracy rates of the general public at the time. It was vital to have a widely recognizable symbol rather than a name for a business. The show globe with its colorful liquids and reflective surfaces allowed people to recognize apothecaries and see their windows from a distance.

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