National Historical Museum

This establishment closed in 1983, figured for almot a century and a half in the scenery of the "carioca's"daily life, and is, in the National Museum of History a testimony from the past seen through the light of the present. In its long history, that began in 1847, the Pharmacy was always managed by few proprietors, A.J. de Souza Magalhães, the founder, José Maria de Souza (1853) and José Teixeira Novaes. The life of the latter mingles itself with the "Pharmacy", since 1883, when he arrived from Portugal, already as an apothecary. From employee, he becomes the owner in 1887. After his death, his son, José Teixeira Novaes Junior continues his work and the "Pharmacy" will run in the family for a century.

Hundred years later, in 1987, the National Historical Museum receives all the assets of this traditional "Pharmacia Homeopathica Teixeira Novaes" from the Roberto Marinho Foundation, who was the temporary guardian of the collection, when it was closed in 1983. More than a mere pharmacy's collection, it reveals an establishment with its own profile, that can be observed in the 824 significant and functional pieces displayed.

The museographic representation of the building that the pharmacy occupied, with its 19th century architectonic characteristics, restores the history of an epoch and the activities of the ancient "Pharmacy". The area formerly destined for customers is transformed into a place where the visitor is now the protagonist, involved in the scene here presented. At the back, where medication was sold, the imposing original furniture in streaked Brazilian walnut, with a scenographic illumination, accentuates the collection of opalines and crystal, and tint bottles, exposed in the shelves. Medicaments are spread over the furniture and labels occupy a half open drawer.

In a separate display, the manipulation laboratory and office. In the latter, safes, writing machines, account books, letterhead papers, works in the science of pharmacy and personal objects that belonged to José Teixeira Novaes, also evoke a time past that can be seen in virtual images reflected on a mirror. A clock marks the return of the hours. The laboratory, where the homeopathic remedies were manipulated, suggest the the process of fabrication.

On the tables, shelves and even on the floor, objects of different shapes - scales, root-cutters, chopping bowls, ceramic deposits, press, funnels, graduated flasks, pads, tablet container - show how the medicaments were produced in the Homeopathic Pharmacy Teixeira Novaes.

	PHARMACY TEIXEIRA NOVAES	PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS