Antique French Napoleon III Leather Perfume Casket with Pair of Gilt Scent Bottles
Antique French Napoleon III Leather Perfume Casket with Pair of Gilt Scent Bottles
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An exceptional 19th-century French perfume or scent casket, retaining its original fitted pair of cut and molded glass flacons within a richly appointed burgundy leather case.
The exterior is covered in deep oxblood-red leather with a domed, cushion-form lid and ornate gilt-metal trim. The casket stands on four elaborate gilt-bronze foliate feet and is fitted with a decorative rocaille-style escutcheon to the front. A narrow metal border of repeating floral ornament frames the raised panel on the lid.
Opening the casket reveals a striking crimson velvet-lined interior, surrounded by black and gold scrolling decoration reminiscent of Boulle-inspired ornament. Two matching rectangular glass scent bottles sit neatly within their original fitted compartments.
Each bottle is particularly fine, with beveled corners, a broad shoulder, and a substantial faceted glass stopper. Applied to the front of each bottle is a gilt-metal plaque depicting a winged horse, or Pegasus, in relief. One bottle retains a small plaque inscribed “ROSE,” indicating the fragrance it originally contained. The second was presumably intended for another perfume or floral essence.
The faceted stoppers are additionally decorated with gilt motifs corresponding to the ornament of the case, tying the entire ensemble together.
This is not simply a decorative box with later bottles added—the dimensions, matching bottles, fitted velvet compartments, and coordinated gilt ornament strongly indicate that the ensemble was conceived and sold as a complete luxury perfume nécessaire.
Era
French, mid-19th century, circa 1850–1870
The fitted leather casket, velvet interior, elaborate gilt-bronze feet, black-and-gold ornamental borders, and richly mounted scent bottles are particularly consistent with luxury French goods of the Second Empire / Napoleon III period.
History
Perfume played an important role in fashionable French toilette culture during the 19th century, and luxurious scent bottles were frequently presented in fitted cases intended for the boudoir or dressing table.
More elaborate examples were sold as part of nécessaires de toilette, combining finely cut glass with gilt bronze, leather, silk, velvet, and decorative metalwork. Parisian luxury retailers specialized in these highly finished personal accessories, which could be purchased individually or as coordinated sets.
The imagery of Pegasus on the bottle mounts is especially striking. Classical and mythological motifs remained fashionable throughout the 19th century and were frequently incorporated into French luxury decorative arts.
The presence of the surviving “ROSE” fragrance plaque is a particularly charming detail and provides direct evidence of the bottle’s original use.
Provenance
France; sourced in France
Materials
Molded and beveled glass scent bottles
Faceted glass stoppers
Gilt bronze / gilt brass mounts
Leather-covered fitted casket
Crimson velvet interior
Wood structural core
Decorative gilt-metal hardware
Dimensions
Dimensions to be added
For the listing I would record:
Overall casket height × width × depth
Height of each bottle including stopper
Bottle width and depth
Condition
Good antique condition with wear consistent with approximately 150+ years of age.
The burgundy leather exterior shows expected surface cracking, rubbing, discoloration, scattered losses, and areas of wear, particularly along the lid and edges. The decorative metal trim and feet retain an attractive aged gilt surface with oxidation, darkening, and rubbing.
The crimson velvet interior remains present and shows expected fading, dust, wear, and compression from age and use.
Both glass bottles and their original faceted stoppers appear to survive. The glass shows minor scratches and manufacturing irregularities consistent with age. Gilt decoration exhibits areas of rubbing and loss.
The case opens and closes, although the original key is not shown and should be considered absent unless otherwise noted.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
Disclaimers
The set is identified as a French perfume / scent casket based on its fitted construction, fragrance inscription, and surviving scent bottles.
The precise retailer or manufacturer has not been established. Although the workmanship is consistent with luxury Parisian toilette goods sometimes associated with Palais-Royal-type wares, I would not market it as Palais Royal without a maker’s mark, retailer label, or documentary comparison.
The metal mounts are described as gilt bronze and/or gilt brass based on appearance; no metal assay has been performed.
As with all antique objects, age-related wear, previous restoration, surface variation, and minor losses should be expected.
An exceptional 19th-century French perfume or scent casket, retaining its original fitted pair of cut and molded glass flacons within a richly appointed burgundy leather case.
The exterior is covered in deep oxblood-red leather with a domed, cushion-form lid and ornate gilt-metal trim. The casket stands on four elaborate gilt-bronze foliate feet and is fitted with a decorative rocaille-style escutcheon to the front. A narrow metal border of repeating floral ornament frames the raised panel on the lid.
Opening the casket reveals a striking crimson velvet-lined interior, surrounded by black and gold scrolling decoration reminiscent of Boulle-inspired ornament. Two matching rectangular glass scent bottles sit neatly within their original fitted compartments.
Each bottle is particularly fine, with beveled corners, a broad shoulder, and a substantial faceted glass stopper. Applied to the front of each bottle is a gilt-metal plaque depicting a winged horse, or Pegasus, in relief. One bottle retains a small plaque inscribed “ROSE,” indicating the fragrance it originally contained. The second was presumably intended for another perfume or floral essence.
The faceted stoppers are additionally decorated with gilt motifs corresponding to the ornament of the case, tying the entire ensemble together.
This is not simply a decorative box with later bottles added—the dimensions, matching bottles, fitted velvet compartments, and coordinated gilt ornament strongly indicate that the ensemble was conceived and sold as a complete luxury perfume nécessaire.
Era
French, mid-19th century, circa 1850–1870
The fitted leather casket, velvet interior, elaborate gilt-bronze feet, black-and-gold ornamental borders, and richly mounted scent bottles are particularly consistent with luxury French goods of the Second Empire / Napoleon III period.
History
Perfume played an important role in fashionable French toilette culture during the 19th century, and luxurious scent bottles were frequently presented in fitted cases intended for the boudoir or dressing table.
More elaborate examples were sold as part of nécessaires de toilette, combining finely cut glass with gilt bronze, leather, silk, velvet, and decorative metalwork. Parisian luxury retailers specialized in these highly finished personal accessories, which could be purchased individually or as coordinated sets.
The imagery of Pegasus on the bottle mounts is especially striking. Classical and mythological motifs remained fashionable throughout the 19th century and were frequently incorporated into French luxury decorative arts.
The presence of the surviving “ROSE” fragrance plaque is a particularly charming detail and provides direct evidence of the bottle’s original use.
Provenance
France; sourced in France
Materials
Molded and beveled glass scent bottles
Faceted glass stoppers
Gilt bronze / gilt brass mounts
Leather-covered fitted casket
Crimson velvet interior
Wood structural core
Decorative gilt-metal hardware
Dimensions
Dimensions to be added
For the listing I would record:
Overall casket height × width × depth
Height of each bottle including stopper
Bottle width and depth
Condition
Good antique condition with wear consistent with approximately 150+ years of age.
The burgundy leather exterior shows expected surface cracking, rubbing, discoloration, scattered losses, and areas of wear, particularly along the lid and edges. The decorative metal trim and feet retain an attractive aged gilt surface with oxidation, darkening, and rubbing.
The crimson velvet interior remains present and shows expected fading, dust, wear, and compression from age and use.
Both glass bottles and their original faceted stoppers appear to survive. The glass shows minor scratches and manufacturing irregularities consistent with age. Gilt decoration exhibits areas of rubbing and loss.
The case opens and closes, although the original key is not shown and should be considered absent unless otherwise noted.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
Disclaimers
The set is identified as a French perfume / scent casket based on its fitted construction, fragrance inscription, and surviving scent bottles.
The precise retailer or manufacturer has not been established. Although the workmanship is consistent with luxury Parisian toilette goods sometimes associated with Palais-Royal-type wares, I would not market it as Palais Royal without a maker’s mark, retailer label, or documentary comparison.
The metal mounts are described as gilt bronze and/or gilt brass based on appearance; no metal assay has been performed.
As with all antique objects, age-related wear, previous restoration, surface variation, and minor losses should be expected.