Perfume bottle - Precious Travel Flask in 925 Sterling Silver

Splendid and elegant vintage travel or purse perfume bottle (scent bottle) dating from the refined transition between the Late Victorian Era and the Edwardian Period (circa 1895–1905). This precious grooming accessory represents a classic example of high British craftsmanship at the turn of the century. The bottle stands out for its characteristic era-appropriate "space-saving" form: an ultra-slim, flattened profile designed to slip discreetly and comfortably into the pockets of jackets or inside the small, luxurious traveling necessaries of high-society ladies. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND EXPERTISE • Era / Style: Late Victorian / Edwardian (circa 1900) • Manufacture: Birmingham, England • Materials: Lead crystal with high refractive index and solid sterling silver (925/1000 fineness). • Height: 10 cm (classic portable proportion). • Depth/Thickness: 2 cm (flat anti-rolling profile). • Overall weight: 40 grams (excellent balance between crystal thickness and the lightness of the silver mount). • Glass design: Very fine hand-cut engraving with the traditional diamond-cut geometric motif, crafted to catch ambient light and create beautiful reflections. • Cap: Smooth domed solid silver finish, free of engravings (ready for a personalized monogram). THE 4 BRITISH HAILMARKS (HALLMARKS) On the silver collar are stamped in a row the four official assay marks of the British Crown, legally guaranteeing its age and authenticity: 1. Maker's Mark (Sponsor): Punch with the regulator’s initials (J.T). 2. The Lion Passant (Standard Mark): State assurance for the compliance of sterling silver 925. 3. The Anchor (Town Mark): Official symbol of the ancient Birmingham Assay Office. 4. The Date Letter: A cursive/gothic letter enclosed in the final shield, typical of the late 19th to early 20th century cycle. FOCUS ON THE SILVERSMITH: WHO WAS J.T.? The mark with the initials "J.T" impressed on the top of the cap identifies the work of the renowned silversmith John Tongue, registered with the Birmingham Assay Office. • History: John Tongue opened his goldsmith shop in Birmingham in the early decades of the 19th century (the first official marks in his name were registered as early as July 1831 at the Summer Row workshops and later at Parade). His business flourished throughout the Victorian era. • Elite Specialization: Tongue quickly became one of Britain’s most renowned and sought-after silversmiths for luxury "pocket" items and travel accessories (such as portable perfume flasks, vinaigrettes, pill boxes, and fine finishes for dressing-room crystal). He was famous for the robustness and millimetric precision of his closures and smooth silver rims, designed to pair with hand-ground crystals from the great English glassworks of the era. • Manufacturing Assurance: Finding John Tongue’s mark on a perfume bottle assures the buyer that the mount is not a mass-produced piece, but the fruit of Birmingham’s artisanal jewelry district at its historical peak. The presence of the mark stamped on both the neck mount and the cap attests to the final quality control performed personally by the master or his senior shop assistants. TOP LINE CURIOSITIES FOR EXPERT COLLECTORS • The secret of the "Voice Salts" and Noble Essences: At the turn of the century, bottles this slim were not filled only with liquids or volatile perfumes, but often with the famous "aromatic salts against fainting" (Smelling Salts). They were an indispensable rescue accessory for High Society ladies who, due to the era’s corsets, frequently suffered sudden drops in blood pressure during balls or long train journeys. • The "Crushed Ice" effect against gas light: The deep diamond-cut geometric motif was chosen not only for aesthetics but to meet a historical need. In 1900 noble houses were transitioning from gas lamps to the first filament electric lights. This particular grinding created a refractive effect similar to crushed ice, designed to amplify and make the bottle gleam even under the weak, warm artificial lights of the era. • The importance of 40 grams: In the British antiques market, bottles weighing around 40/50 grams with a flat profile are the most sought after by Chatelaine collectors. A Chatelaine was the waist belt with hooks and accessories that women wore; a bottle too heavy would ruin the fabric of dresses, while this specific "feather" weight was considered the perfect compromise between visible luxury and comfort. • A piece to personalize: The complete absence of monograms or initials engraved on the domed cap increases the object’s collectible value. In Edwardian England, buying a piece "plain" meant purchasing it from a luxury jeweler without ever completing personalization, leaving the silver intact, free of re-engraving wear, and still ready today, after more than a century, to host the new owner's initials. CONDITION EXCELLENT / COLLECTIBLE. The crystal body is completely intact, a remarkable and very rare feature for an object over 120 years old; there are no cracks, hairlines, or chipping on the sharp edges of the diamond-cut facets. The cap’s silver retains its genuine, charming dark patina of age (natural oxidation), left intentionally to attest to its antiquity (it can be polished to a mirror finish at the buyer’s discretion). 100% authentic piece, perfect for enriching collections of antique English silver, vintage perfume bottles, or early-century vanity items.

Schätzpreis:€150

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