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Description:
A beautiful authentic 19th-century French perfume casket / caddy (Cave à odeurs) from the Napoleon III era (circa 1860-1880s). The ebonized wooden box features an elegant brass inlay on the lid, brass hinges, and its original working key. The interior is lined with its original rich burgundy quilted silk fabric with twisted trim.
The set includes two original square crystal/glass bottles decorated with hand-painted gold stars and gilded collars.
Important Collector's Note:
Both bottles retain their original, matching hand-engraved workshop numbers. One bottle features the matching number "41" hand-etched on both the bottom of the base and the bottom of its stopper. The second stopper is also original and marked with the workshop number "9". This proves the set is entirely original and has not been married or pieced together.
Condition:
Good antique condition with honest signs of age and wear. The wooden box has minor surface scuffs, age-related wood drying cracks on the bottom, and slight brass oxidation, consistent with a 150-year-old item. The silk lining shows light wear. The bottles are intact without chips or cracks on the necks. The gilding on the stars is well-preserved, while the gilding on one of the sphere stoppers is rubbed and worn, showing the clear glass underneath (please see photos). The lock is functional with the included key.
Dimensions:
• Width : 4.5" (approx. 11.5 cm)
• Depth : 3.2" (approx. 8.2 cm)
• Height : 4.5" (approx. 11.5 cm)
