Victorian Sterling Silver Mounted Cut Glass Scent Bottle
Vanity Set (Perfume/Scent Bottle) · Likely British or American manufacture (unidentified without macro of marks); characteristic of firms such as Unger Bros or Birmingham silversmiths like Levi & Salaman.
Pattern: Repoussé Scroll and Floral Pattern; generic Victorian ornate style typical of the 1890s.
Type
Vanity Set (Perfume/Scent Bottle)
Maker
Likely British or American manufacture (unidentified without macro of marks); characteristic of firms such as Unger Bros or Birmingham silversmiths like Levi & Salaman.
Material
Sterling Silver (.925) cap and neck collar; leaded cut crystal glass body. Handle/cap is hollow-formed silver.
Dimensions
Approximately 3 to 4 inches in height; silver weight negligible (hollow); overall weight approximately 100-150 grams including glass.
Description
This charming Victorian scent bottle features a globular cut-glass body decorated with intricate geometric facets that catch the light. It is crowned with a sterling silver cap decorated in high-relief repoussé with scrolling foliage and blossoms, typical of the late 19th-century aesthetic.
Key Features
Spherical 'golf club' style cap, high relief floral chasing, and 'Strawberry Diamond' style glass cutting.
Material & Composition
Sterling Silver (.925) cap and neck collar; leaded cut crystal glass body. Handle/cap is hollow-formed silver.
Finish & Decoration
Repoussé and chased floral and scroll motifs on the cap; oxidized silver finish in the recesses to highlight detail; hobnail and diamond-cut glass patterns.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Likely stamped 'Sterling' or with British hallmarks (Lion Passant, Anchor/Leopard) on the side edge of the silver collar or the lower rim of the cap.
Construction Details
Die-struck and assembled hollow silver cap; hand-cut or mold-blown lead glass; silver collar is burnished onto the glass neck using a plaster-of-paris or resin cement.
Functional Features
Hinged or screw-top cap (likely screw-on based on collar design); internal glass stopper missing or integrated; used for holding perfume or smelling salts.
Handle & Grip Details
Silver globular cap serves as the grip; textured repoussé provides traction; attached via a threaded or pressure-fit metal collar.
Craftsmanship Details
Machine-aided die-striking on the silver; hand-finished chasing; mid-tier assembly-line luxury typical of the late 1800s vanity market.
Authentication Indicators
Wear consistent with age on the base of the glass; patina in the silver crevices; period-correct glass cutting techniques.
Origin & Manufacturing
Likely Birmingham, England or Newark, New Jersey; center of vanity silver production during the late 19th century.
Era & Period
Late Victorian Era (c. 1880-1900), reflecting the transition from High Victorian ornate to Art Nouveau floral styles.
Age Estimate
Circa 1895 based on the specific density of the 'hobnail' cut and the bulbous repoussé cap style.
Cultural Significance
Represents the late 19th-century focus on the 'dressing table' as a site of luxury and feminine status; illustrates the mass-market availability of sterling luxury items after the silver strikes of the 1870s.
Condition Notes
Good to Very Good condition; silver shows minor surface dimples and heavy tarnish; glass appears free of major chips; likely missing the internal glass 'dabber' or stopper.
Value Estimate
$75 - $150 USD depending on the clarity of hallmarks and presence of the internal stopper.
Care & Maintenance
Clean silver with a specialized cloth like Cape Cod; avoid submerging in water as it can weaken the cement holding the silver collar; hand wash glass only with mild soap.
Similar Pieces
Tiffany & Co. etched glass bottles (higher value), or silver-overlay 'Pinchbeck' bottles; differs by having a separate silver cap rather than a total overlay.
Interesting Facts
During the Victorian era, scent bottles were essential for women to carry 'smelling salts' to prevent fainting fits caused by restrictive corsets.