Gorgeous French sterling silver and cut glass liquor flask. Featuring a tapered glass body decorated in stunning cobalt blue cut to clear. The pattern comprising of deep wheel cut fluting and cross hatching. Retains a glass stopper. Mounted with French sterling silver fittings, including a round knob lid, threaded collar and detachable tumbler cup sheathing the base, ideal for a shot of one’s favorite liquor or ‘spirits’. The sterling lid and cup decorated with an intricate engine turned guilloche engraved pattern, finished with gold vermeil interiors. Hallmarked with the French Minerve 1st standard mark. In use from 1838, the mark depicts the goddess Minerva with a number 1 beside her to denote a silver content of .950/1000 silver (95% silver and a higher grade of finesse than the standard .925 for sterling). Bearing maker’s marks for silversmith Ernest Prost, active from 1923 to 1963 at 7 rue Réaumur, Paris. Measures 6 1/8” length. In overall good condition with general wear commensurate with age and use.
Sometimes mistaken for a perfume bottle, bottles such as these were originally serviceable as portable flasks intended for liquor, 'spirits', tonics and herbals. Though certainly usable for perfume if desired and are perfect to display among scent bottle collections. These flasks could easily hold a substantial amount of one's favorite liquor, to be served in the detachable tumbler or drinking cup at the base and ideal for a 'shot' of whiskey or flavored liqueur. These highly collectible 'spirit' flasks are also known as carriage flasks, handy for short travel and easily stow-able in a purse or pocket during a night out at the theatre or opera. Also referred to as a flacon a eau de melisse, after a type of herbal 'spirits' similar to absinthe made from lemon balm favored for its fresh citrus taste and used as a tonic against migraines. A convenient accessory for a suitable "restoratif" on a cold carriage journey or at a tedious social event.