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Fennings Fever Curer
Cobalt Blue Figural
Provenance: Unknown?
Fennings’ Fever Curer (or Fever Mixture) was a popular Victorian over-the-counter remedy created in the 1840s by English chemist Alfred Fennings. Advertised to treat everything from minor sore throats to scarlet fever, diphtheria, and cholera, the clear liquid was typically dosed by the “wineglassful”. Alfred Fennings (1816–1900) opened his first shop in London in 1840 and became known for his aggressive, eye-catching advertising. Historical leaflets from the era boasted that Fennings’ Fever Curer could relieve sore throats in just one dose and cure major diseases.
The company also sold “Children’s Cooling Powders” for mild fevers and teething, which historically contained ingredients like acetaminophen. They typically came in aqua-colored or clear glass, featuring the embossed words “FENNINGS’ FEVER CURER” on the front. Some clear variants included etched measurement lines marking a half or full “wine glass”. This is a rare blue example.
