Antique French sterling silver and cut glass liquor flask. The tapered cylindrical glass bottle is a gorgeous green color decorated with wheel cut spiral fluting and engraved scrolling foliage. Mounted with a sterling silver lid, collar and removable tumbler cup sheathing the base. Gilt vermeil finish to the silver mounts. Hallmarked with the French Minerva 1st standard mark, which depicts the head of the goddess Minerva with a number 1 beside her to denote a silver content of 950/1000. Bearing a maker's mark. Flask measures 5 7/8" length. In overall good to fair antique condition with general wear commensurate from use and age, the inside mouth of the bottle with damage, some shallow indentions to the cup. Lacking a stopper.
While prized by collectors of lay down scent or perfume bottles, these charming flasks were meant originally for serving liquor, herbal restoratives or absinthe. Sometimes called an opera flask or carriage flask, they were also referred to as flacon à eau de mélisse after a type of absinthe spirits made from lemon balm favored for its fresh citrus taste. Used for liqueur, spirits, tonic waters and flavored herbal remedies one could not be without to help soothe migraines and body aches. They could easily hold a substantial amount to be served in the detachable tumbler that sheathes the base. Smaller than the usual hip flasks, their size and shape allow them to be easily and discretely stow-able. Imagine arriving at the opera with this beautiful marriage of glass and silver, full of absinthe or herbal water, secreted in your coat pocket. A convenient accessory for allowing a lady or gentleman a suitable "restoratif" on a cold carriage journey or at a tedious social event.