Old Perfume and Scent Bottles - Part I

You don't have to be a Sunday school teacher, or even a Christian for that matter, to be familiar with verses 9-11, Mathew 2, from the Holy Bible: 

"After their audience with the king they set out. The star which they had observed at its rising went ahead of them until it came to a standstill over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house found the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their coffers and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

Wise men came bearing gifts. Most precious in Herod's kingdom, undoubtedly. You already know about gold. How about the other treasures in the coffer?  Do you have any idea what frankincense and myrrh are?

They are perfumes. At first thought, pleasant smelling tree resign seems a tawdry gift to present to a newborn king whose prophesized birth is announced by a supernova. On second thought, in those days, it was a pretty special gift. Here's why: running water, Dial Soap, Right Guard deodorant, shower equipped bath tubs, toothpaste, Listerine and affordable clean clothing and undergarments are contemporary inventions. Bottom line is: Up until the first quarter of the 20th century, people reeked, big-time.

Knowing that, understand this: costly as quality perfume and cologne is today, it was considerably more so in earlier days. Rosewater, lilac oil and frankincense were also more compulsory. Ornamental, varied, imaginative and skillfully made as fragrance bottles are today-they were even more so in the old days. Because few people have yet caught on to these particulars, such containers represent an outstanding investment and decorative opportunity for collectors.

Here are a few tips on the subject:

• Indian Jones type archeologists and historians have long conjectured that numerous perfume flasks commonly found in tombs like Tutankhamun's were put there to ease their loved ones journey to the afterlife. I conjecture the purpose was more practical in nature. Having more to do with matters of the nose already here mentioned. Surprisingly, ancient world perfume containers made of stone; terracotta, turquoise and glass are still reasonably affordable. Great examples can be purchased from trusted dealers for less than $2000. Good specimens usually range around $100-$500. An iridescent blown glass Roman perfume flask is pleasurable starting point for a scent collection.
• Breaking from religious shackles of the dark ages, Renaissance men of the new sciences began to associate stench (incorrectly) and four-odor-attracted flying pests (correctly) to diseases like the plague. During the Middle Ages and up through the 18th century, perfume was regarded as a both a personal enhancement and as a means of warding off evil spirits and disease. Scent containing "pomanders" hung like small silver walnut pendants from necklaces. Others citizens wore their pomanders from waist belts or "chatelaines." Into these, jewelers and braziers would commonly incorporate orange-section-shaped hinged segments that could be opened out and filled with a variety of aromatic herbs and wax-based perfumes at the discretion of the wearer and their apothecarist. A chaise decorated or jeweled pomander will cost a collector $1000-$5000. A good final touch to a collection. Now on to the middle parts.
• A "vinaigrette" is a small container designed to hold a small sponge soaked in aromatic vinegar. Usually a hinged box or bottle. The opening hinge end of a vinaigrette has a decorative pierced metal grill to allow the acidic smell through when it's discretely held up to the possessor's nose. Why so many men and especially women were drawn this custom has not come to my attention. Some have suggested a smelling salt premise due to the tightness of olden day corsets and clothing. This is one more theory I do not consent to. Quackery probably has something to do with it. Canceling foul odors out certainly played a large role. One thing is for certain. From the 18th through the early 20th century, vinegar and acidic salt sniffing was common. Many crystal perfumes I have owned were double-ended. With a screw cap and stopper holding perfume on one end. And, on the opposite side, the silver screw cap or hinged-top, covering a grilled-faced vinaigrette bottle. One end for waking one's self up: The other side for awakening far more interesting feelings in others.

We'll have more and collectible scent and perfume bottles next week. Till then, wear your pomander around your neck or I'll hold my vinaigrette up to my nose. Not too discreetly either!

by AntiqueTalk.com

Reprinted with permission
Copyright by Wayne Mattox ©