Viktor Šipek: Elsa Fluid dom, drawing, Zagreb, 1910, HMMF-633
Eugen Viktor Feller (26th January 1871 – 15th November 1936) was a Croatian pharmacist, entrepreneur and pioneer of the industrial drug production in Croatia. Feller was born in 1871, in Lwów region, which after the partition of Poland was at the time a part of Austro-Hungary province known as Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, to a Jewish family of David and Elizabeta (née Holzer) Feller.
He was married to Ida (née Oehmichen) Feller, with whom he had twelve children, among them William Feller. In the late 19th century, Feller achieved fame with the elixir “Elsa Fluid” (named after his mothers nickname, Elsa), whose production along with other cosmetic preparations took place in Donja Stubica. In Donja Stubica, Feller built the pharmaceutical factory, laboratory, and family house with pharmacy. Feller presented “Elsa Fluid” as a cure for all diseases. It was exported in almost all European countries, as well as Egypt, Japan and China, while in the United States it was very popular at the time of Prohibition, due to high percentage of alcohol in its content.
Feller was great philanthropist who financially helped the students, poor families, children and various societies. In 1918, he opened a trust fund to help the mothers of soldiers who were killed in World War I. At the corner of Ban Josip Jelačić Square and Jurišićeva Street, he built a building with a great advertising of his product, known as the Elsa Fluid dom, which later changed its facade. Feller died on 15th November 1936 and was buried at the Mirogoj Cemetery.
Elsa-fluid bottle, Donja Stubica, beginning of the 20th century, HMMF-634
Elsa-creme pomade, Donja Stubica, beginning of the 20th century., HMMF-635
Diploma for honour awarded to Eugen Viktor Feller for Elsa-fluid, London, 1901, HMMF-272
