ANTIQUE BABY BOTTLE

Antique baby bottle from the English company Allenburys, made in London in 1905.

In 1894, the first banana-shaped feeding bottle appeared on the market. The British pharmaceutical company Allenburys (alias Allen & Hanburys) was quite proud of its feeding bottle, which indeed had some excellent features. Firstly, both ends allowed good airflow, which is crucial for feeding a baby: one end of the bottle had a nipple, and the other had a valve. Secondly, it was easy to grip. Thirdly, and most importantly, it was hygienic, as claimed on the bottle itself. It could be easily cleaned and sterilized. The Allenburys brand is known for emphasizing the increasing awareness of hygiene and cleanliness in the early 20th century. On the box itself, we can read their vision: “This feeder ensures absolute cleanliness and eliminates all causes which induce fermentation of food. The infant is freed from disease, winds, digestive disturbances, diarrhea, etc. It is especially recommended for use with ‘Allenburys’ infant foods. You can offer clean and uncontaminated food in a bottle that can be easily cleaned.” Allenburys was right: its bottle was much more hygienic than those before it, which were so difficult to clean that they became a breeding ground for deadly bacteria – these charming bottles later became known as “murder bottles.”

Now, this bottle can be an interesting decorative item, and the box itself is also very interesting. It features captivating images and refined yet not entirely refined messages, showing us what innovations artificial feeding brought in those times. A very interesting item that tells us a lot about the past.

Dimensions: 19.5 x 8 x 6.5 cm

Weight: 220 g

The bottle is in excellent condition, albeit without the nipple and valve that originally came with it. The box is well-preserved.