Victorian French gold perfume bottle with turquoise lattice, circa 1860

Victorian, circa 1860, a French 18K gold perfume bottle cased in an openwork gold lattice, each junction set with a cabochon turquoise. A hinged turban cap lends an Ottoman inspired accent, in step with the Orientalist taste fashionable in Paris, in painting, dress, and the decorative arts, including the harem scenes of Ingres and Delacroix. Turquoise was named for its Turkish route into Europe, a link that suits the turban form rather well. The perfume aperture retains its removable gold applicator stopper for discreet dabbing behind the ears, an oddly intimate object that still suggests scent, skin, and a private ritual.

Jewellery Type
perfume bottle

Condition
very good condition
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Country of origin
France

Style
Victorian era, with an Ottoman inspired, Orientalist taste. Mid nineteenth century France embraced ‘turquerie’ and other historicist revivals. In jewellery this often appears as exoticised forms, rich surface pattern, and a deliberate play with foreign dress and courtly objects.
See also: Victorian
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Style specifics
The Romantic Victorian period (about 1837 to 1860). Many experts divide the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901) into three broad phases: an early or Romantic period, a mid period sometimes called Grand Victorian, and a late or Aesthetic phase. We consider this piece to belong to the late Romantic Victorian years, close to the transition around 1860. Jewellery of this phase often combines sentimental motifs with historicising and exotic tastes, and favours rich surface work such as fine chasing, engraving, and occasional enamel. Turquoise was a popular accent, alongside stones such as coral, garnet, amethyst, and seed pearls.

Period
ca. 1860
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Ottoman inspired turban form

Material 18K
yellow gold (touchstone tested)
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Extra information
The bottle itself is probably glass, set within an openwork gold lattice, with a turquoise at each junction. A turban shaped cap, hinged to the bottle, opens and closes it. The perfume opening is sealed with a removable applicator stopper, which can be taken out to dab perfume behind the ears.

Precious stones:
64 cabochon cut turquoises

Birthstones
Turquoise is the birthstone (or month stone) for December .
more info on birthstones

Hallmarks
The French control mark for 18K gold representing an eagle's head that was in use in France from about 1838.
more info on hallmarks

Dimensions
5,11 cm (2,01 inch) x 3,47 cm (1,37 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
42,50 gram (27,33 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
26050-0271

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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