ANTIQUE 19thC FRENCH PARQUETRY PERFUMERS BOX, PARIS c.1890

£3,195.00

Antique 19th Century perfumer’s casket, finely constructed in richly figured walnut and distinguished by an intricate geometric mosaic top worked in contrasting light and dark timbers. The box is neatly bound and mounted in brass, the angular form of the case echoing the faceted design of the glass bottles contained within. The hinged lid opens to reveal a fitted interior housing twenty five hand-blown, cut glass essence bottles, each of square form with faceted corners and individually fitted glass stopper. The front of the box drops down to provide easy access to the complete arrangement of bottles, while also displaying the quality of the cabinet work and brass fittings. Originally intended to contain highly concentrated aromatic essences, a collection such as this formed the perfumer’s working “orchestra”, the individual notes from which complex fragrances were composed and blended. These precious botanical and aromatic ingredients were the building blocks of Victorian perfumery and the direct forebears of many scents still produced today. The survival of the fitted box together with its full complement of twenty-five glass bottles makes this a particularly appealing example for collectors of antique perfume, apothecary objects and fine decorative boxes.

Reference Number: Z12429

Antique 19th Century perfumer’s casket, finely constructed in richly figured walnut and distinguished by an intricate geometric mosaic top worked in contrasting light and dark timbers. The box is neatly bound and mounted in brass, the angular form of the case echoing the faceted design of the glass bottles contained within. The hinged lid opens to reveal a fitted interior housing twenty five hand-blown, cut glass essence bottles, each of square form with faceted corners and individually fitted glass stopper. The front of the box drops down to provide easy access to the complete arrangement of bottles, while also displaying the quality of the cabinet work and brass fittings. Originally intended to contain highly concentrated aromatic essences, a collection such as this formed the perfumer’s working “orchestra”, the individual notes from which complex fragrances were composed and blended. These precious botanical and aromatic ingredients were the building blocks of Victorian perfumery and the direct forebears of many scents still produced today. The survival of the fitted box together with its full complement of twenty-five glass bottles makes this a particularly appealing example for collectors of antique perfume, apothecary objects and fine decorative boxes.

Reference Number: Z12429

CONDITION

In Good Condition - Wear in keeping with age, please refer to photographs.

SIZE

Width: 27 cm // 10.63 in
Depth: 27 cm // 10.63 in
Height: 10 cm // 3.94 in

Bottles Width: 5 cm // 1.97 in
Bottles Depth: 5 cm // 1.97 in
Bottles Height: 7 cm // 2.76 in