330
330
The floral enamel lid set with old mine-cut diamonds, to the crystal jar
Yellow gold
3.625 x 0.875 in; Gross weight 43.5 dwts
estimate: $800–1,200
result: $1,125
This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Precious Cargo, Precious Vessels
Antique Scent Bottles of Europe
Made to carry and preserve precious cargo, antique European scent bottles for nobility of the 18th and 19th centuries were often jewel-encrusted and created with gold, crystal, and other luxury materials. The design and exquisite craftsmanship of these tiny vessels was, naturally, meant to reflect the value of their contents: magnificent and rare concoctions distilled from the finest botanicals.
While it’s difficult to know precisely what scents were originally encapsulated in such historic bottles, the 19th century was a revolutionary moment in the history of perfume: a new taste for luxury proliferated through post-revolutionary France, heralded as a perfume capital, and parfumeurs began to experiment with organic chemistry for the first time. As the realm of olfactory possibility expanded, scents were also becoming more widely available in liquid form instead of the earlier solids and vinegar-soaked sponges. Perfume, once considered a mark of necessary hygiene, continued on its path to becoming a personal status symbol. Across Europe, the renaissance in scent meant the desire for perfume spread far and wide and opened up ample opportunities for artisans to create lavish vessels for the most distinguished clientele.