Objects of Modernity
The technological transformation of the 1920s through the Uriach legacy, part one
Drugstore entrance (1920)Fundación Uriach
In the 1920s, Catalonia experienced a major technological and social transformation linked to industrial and commercial modernization. Barcelona became a driving force for change, and many local companies evolved. Uriach’s trajectory, founded in 1838, is part of this industrial context.
Archive of the Uriach Foundation (2019) by Jordi SequeroFundación Uriach
In 1988, the Uriach Foundation was created to preserve and manage the company’s memory. Images, objects, and other elements form a valuable heritage that, like the pieces of a puzzle, allow us to look back at the past, understand who we are, and project ourselves into the future.
Warehouses or manufacturing pavilions (1920)Fundación Uriach
We invite you to explore this exhibition, which illustrates, through objects and photographs, how Uriach’s evolution became part of the company’s daily life in a city determined to present itself as modern and cosmopolitan.
Accounting elegance
The cash register made by the American company National was a pioneer in the mechanisation of commerce from the late nineteenth century onward. It revolutionised sales management and accounting by introducing a level of accuracy and security that had previously been unknown.
Perfumery section of the drugstore (1920)Fundación Uriach
In the 1920s, although product distribution was the core of Uriach’s business, making it the second largest distributor in the country, the drugstore still played a key role, with prominent sections such as perfumery and cosmetics.
In addition to serving as a calculating tool, this National cash register, model 452X, also conveyed sophistication through its luxurious design, ornamented by Tiffany & Co., which reinforced the elegant image of the establishment.
Neoclassical precision
Standing scale manufactured by the Barcelona company M. Ballarín, which in the early twentieth century offered a wide range of products with a notable industrial line (safes and scales). Its workshops were located just a few meters from Uriach’s drugstore in 1920.
Drugstore (1920)Fundación Uriach
Placed at the center of the premises, the scale fulfilled a scenographic function: it was used to weigh people, conveyed a sense of rigor, and attracted new customers to the business.
This scale model, No. 5419, featured a lever and a sliding counterweight capable of weighing up to 150 kilos with great precision. Made of cast iron to ensure durability, it was decorated in a beautiful neoclassical style.
American efficiency
Created by the Underwood Typewriter Company, Model No. 5 is one of the best-selling and most influential typewriters in history, as it was the first machine that allowed the text to be seen directly while typing.
A department of the offices (1920) by DesconocidoFundación Uriach
In Uriach’s offices, the most innovative technologies were gradually introduced. The aim was to create an efficient working environment where administrative and accounting management could be carried out quickly and in an organized manner.
Designed by Franz Wagner, the Underwood No. 5 streamlined much of the office work. Despite its high cost, equivalent to several months’ salary for a professional, its reliability and durability kept it indispensable in many offices for decades.
Futuristic singularity
Manufactured by The Oliver Typewriter Company, this machine was recognizable by its unmistakable “gull-wing” design, which made it one of the most distinctive pieces of the early twentieth century.
Office with staff and the manager in the background (1920)Fundación Uriach
Offices could vary greatly depending on their function. Some were spacious and divided into distinct areas according to tasks, with spaces reserved for management and others dedicated to accounting work.
Valued for its originality and futuristic aesthetics, the Oliver 10 offered a strong sense of character compared to more conventional brands, although its distinctive elevated typebar system was not comfortable for all users.
Icon of design
The Skeleton model by the Swedish company L. M. Ericsson, manufactured in the late nineteenth century, marked a turning point in communication, as it was one of the first desktop telephones to integrate both the receiver and the transmitter into a single device.
Executive office at the company’s facilities (1920)Fundación Uriach
In 1920, Uriach already had its own telephone service under the number SP-7. This innovation connected the company to an increasingly accessible world, to markets demanding swift responses, and to more discerning consumers.
Its open iron and brass structure, which for the first time left the mechanism visible, together with its beautifully crafted ornamental elements, turned the Skeleton model into an icon of industrial design and a highly sought-after piece among collectors.
Wholesale warehouse (1920)Fundación Uriach
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