This one is something special! It's rare to find a complete and fully intact scent caddy from this era and with the original 4 scent bottles, their 1" diameter miniature paintings of Paris architectural icons, 'eglomise' or referencing 'back-painted glass'. The monuments here are The Madeleine Cathedral, the Pantheon, Concord, and the Bourse (monetary fund/banking). Each of the scent flasks is complete with the original stoppers, as well (one is slightly stuck in perfume residue - we'll work on it). The elegant kingwood, which is a personal favorite, is worked in serpentine form and nicely trimmed with bronze, raised on bronze cabriole legs. The only thing missing is the original key. We'll try to match one of ours, but I can't promise. The added fun of this one is that, on bottom, it still retains the marketer's stamp from a boutique in that magical 'hidden' Paris, The Passages. if you have not yet found those, do - it's a walk back in history and still charming! Spectacular, as these go, It's a great pleasure to have it pass through my hands and collections. I don't know when we've had a nicer one, nor in finer condition for age and type.
Very good to excellent condition - far more than any comparable we've had in decades. Typically a bottle or two broken or replacements, or the souvenir monument paintings are moisture-damaged from an ill-thought out cleaning. The kingwood is spectacular and I see no flaws to note. The only 2 tiny issues I have to report would be the one stopper being temporarily stuck - residue from perfume having dried there, evaporated, gone sticky. Rick is quite good at getting those out safely - I'll have him look at it. Also, you can see a very light staining on the inner lid lining of silk, again, mishandled with scents in the bottles at some time. Not as bad as our photos show, actually - something about the photo lights - but it is there. And no key at listing time, priced that way. We'll do our best to match one to the chest. All measurements are noted on the photos. A RARE and superb find, c.1840-70s, Paris!
