We’ve noticed that practicality is no longer the primary consideration in pill storage. Instead, these containers are used as the symbol that redefines the daily act of taking pills from a chore into an aesthetic ritual. It only makes sense that as stigmas of SSRIs fade away and wellness supplements continue to dominate our shelves, the pill box has become the latest wellness status symbol.
There’s precedent for this, too...
In eighteenth-century Europe, ornate boxes often sat atop tables of the wealthy, filled with candied fruits and sugared nuts for guests. As customs evolved, these boxes became smaller, more portable, and easier to exchange as tokens of affection. Beyond holding snuff or tobacco, the petite vessels offered a perfect canvas for artistry, many donning intricate metalwork and gemstone inlays. A new object of cultural cache, it was common for secrets to be told in their detailing or discrete flirtations shared through the rituals of their use. In miniature form, the box elevated to the jewelry category, marking it a symbol of status and taste. By the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Tiffany & Co. had launched their own troves, many of which can still be sourced today.
In 1843, the compressed pill was invented and patented, leading to the rise of the modern pharmaceutical industry. As the ritual of consumption changed, so did the design. Snuff boxes naturally gave way to pill boxes.By the 1960s, enamel and silver gave way to plastic, as luxury was sacrificed for utility.1
While the terms of how we medicate will shift, history tells us that self-medicating and the rituals behind it are here to stay. We chatted with Lauren Sands of LES Collection to learn the story behind The Pill Box, a hand-sculpted marble vessel that defies categories, sitting somewhere between a covered Seder Plate and a jewelry box that we’ve seen all over social media
“I truly designed it out of my own need to turn a dark moment in my health into something beautiful,” Sands said. “I had my ovaries removed at 35 and went into immediate menopause. While the surgery was preventative because of my high ovarian cancer risk, it brought its own set of challenges—like increased risks for heart disease and osteoporosis.” Seemingly overnight, Sands had various medications and supplements to keep track of on a daily basis. “I knew I had to keep them out where I could see, but I’m so aesthetically sensitive that I usually prefer a clutter-free counter. So I set out to design a pill box that I would actually want to see every day.”
Sands’ story (and box) is a great example of how these objects, once thought to be reserved for private moments, are being recast into attention-grabbing pieces and truly changing our relationship to the act of taking daily pills.
Read Lauren Sands’ full story:
A host of other boxes have caught our eyes, proving that those janky plastic CVS-brand vessels will no longer cut it. People want leather cases that cosplay as wallets, and stainless steel designs for microplastic-free medicating. We’re obsessed with these jewelry-grade objects sourced by Casa Shop. Even legacy designers like Alessi are getting into the game. Of course, cult-loved jeweler Sophie Buhai created an heirloom-quality nautilus-shaped pill box with matching cigarette case. We can’t stop thinking about how this homeware brand is redefining objects for aging (including the pill box) — we’d love to learn more.
There are plenty of things we do daily; why not make them all beautiful?
The elevated objects we’d buy (or have already purchased…) that get us through our daily routines.
Really soft and really pretty napkins from Gem Home x Autumn Sonata Napkins
These Lurex Sponges have the potential to make dishwashing a disco
Kaweco Steel Sport Rollerball Pen because a premium pen leads to premium writing
Hand soap that makes your bathroom smell like a very expensive restaurant
A boroux water filter to make your kitchen feel like a spa
The only washcloth we’ll use.
Woodblock Print stationary from Tokyo’s legacy washi dealer
Soft Glass Lip Plumping Oil, the ultimate status gloss, from Fara Homidi
The Unicorn pepper mill has a devoted following and ships directly from Nantucket
100% cotton and made in Portugal undies from CouCou
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