Boxwood Pill Silverer, 1800s
Description
A pill silverer was used to coat newly-made pills. The cheapest pills were coated with talc but wealthier clients bought pills coated in silver or gold.
The two piece silverer, a spherical or ovoid wooden cup and lid, would be lined with silver or gold leaf, and a few drops of vegetable gum were added. The pills were then placed inside the silverer, which was rotated to coat them.