FINE Antique French PUIFORCAT Sterling Vermeil Silver Gilt & Crystal Perfume Bottle Flask

Silver : Antique : Sterling : Holloware : Bottle, Flask

 

A rare 19th century flacon à sels (for smelling salts or perfume) from the prestigious French silversmith, Puiforcat, in fluted crystal and vermeil (gilding over silver). The underside of the base bears the Puiforcat hallmark, "E penknife P" for Emil Puiforcat, active at 18 rue Chaponin, Paris, from 1857. The beautiful cut crystal is probably Baccarat. They did a lot of crystal items for Puiforcat. Height c. 4 3/4 in. (12 cm.); Diameter at shoulder c. 1 1/4 in. (3 cm.)

Other hallmarks on the silver include (each used from 1838): the Minerve 1 mark for .950 silver (higher quality than sterling) on the back of the base; and the Boar's Head (Tète de Sanglier), for small articles of .800 silver, stamped twice on the screw top of the bottle. (This particular location needed the extra metal strength, for frequent twisting of the cap).

So many of these flasks lost most of their gilding a century ago: but, this one is exceptional! Most of the gold is still present! There is only a bit of wear on the top and edges of the ridges of the cap and a tiny bit around the bottom rim of the base. (These worn areas are exaggerated in some of the images, due to the need for contrast, to show the crystal ribbing.) Adding some “intrigue” to its history, there is a dent in the top of the cap (c. 1 cm.), seen only from above. It can be hidden from view with a bit of finesse. The crystal is in perfect condition, with no stains, clouding, chips, hairlines or cracks. The vermeil polishes up to a beautiful golden sheen; and the fine quality of the fluted crystal sparkles like new. Dark spots in the images are just reflections of the camera; white specks on the screw top are just residue of some old silver polish. PLEASE CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL IMAGE FOR LARGE PHOTOS.

Item ID: 0506-04