Description

Rare antique 19th century Black Forest hand carved wood perfume caddy. The box is carved entirely from wood, featuring unique serpentine shaping and framed along the edges with a detailed carved wood bark texture. Decorated throughout with bas relief carvings of leaves on scrolling vines on a textured ground. The lid featuring an exquisite shield cartouche monogrammed with initials JB in Gothic script, surrounded by foliage. The front bears a working lock and original key. The hinged lid opening to reveal a fitted interior housing three gorgeous cut crystal scent bottles. Each bottle is of quality cut crystal, topped by faceted stoppers, and beautifully enhanced with finely engraved intaglios of flowers and leaves. A single flower on a stem adorns the tops of each stopper, giving an added touch of charm to this lovely perfume bottle trio. Polished pontils to the bases. Each stopper bears a number at the base, corresponding to matching numbers found inside the collars of the bottles, indicating they are original. Unsigned but likely early Baccarat perfume bottles. The renown cristallerie marked their wares with a paper label beginning in 1860, (which often got lost, worn or washed away), and did not use the now fame acid etched logo until 1936. Overall a lovely Black Forest perfume casket. In very good condition. The wood carving is in good order with no chips or cracks. Working lock and key. No cracks or major chips the perfume bottles, there are a couple of nibbles to one or two bottles and to the underside of one stopper. Box measures 6 3/4" x 3 7/8" x 4 3/8" tall. The bottles measure 1 3/4" x 1 1/8" x 3" height.