What is a coromandel scent bottle casket?

A scent bottle casket is a decorative wooden container crafted to hold perfume bottles, often featuring fitted interior compartments, lock mechanisms, and mirror inserts. Coromandel, a distinctive dark hardwood with contrasting striped grain, was frequently utilised for high-end Victorian caskets.

What materials were used in 19th-century vanity caskets?

Victorian vanity caskets were typically constructed using exotic timber veneers such as coromandel, rosewood, or walnut, paired with solid brass mounts, handles, and escutcheons. Interior elements commonly contained lead cut glass bottles, velvet lining, and silver or brass trim.

How can you identify authentic Victorian coromandel boxes?

Authentic pieces feature the characteristic dark brown and orange-black banded grain of Calamander wood, alongside heavy brass strapping or corner brackets. Original caskets from this era generally retain hand-cut dovetail joints, period locks, and fitted interiors with lead crystal decanters or jars.

How do you style an antique scent casket in modern interiors?

An antique casket works well when positioned on a hallway sideboard, a dressing table, or an open bookshelf alongside complementary antique glass or brass accessories. Its dark wood and brass elements provide structural contrast against lighter painted walls and contemporary surfaces.

How should coromandel wood and cut glass be cared for?

Coromandel wood should be kept away from direct heat sources and dusted regularly with a soft microfiber cloth, applying natural beeswax sparingly to maintain moisture in the grain. Cut glass bottles ought to be washed by hand using warm water and mild soap, ensuring they are thoroughly dried before replacing them in the wooden interior.

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Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

Name: Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1200718
Price: 1350 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a superb antique late Victorian brass mounted coromandel wood ladies combination scent bottle and jewellery casket of miniature tantalus form, Circa 1880 in date.

The whole tantalus has been decorated with angular brass mounts, the top has a vacant shield shaped cartouche, ready to be inscribed. The mirrored rear section is inset with three cut glass circular scent bottles with facetted globular stoppers. The front is fitted with twin hinged covers that have inset bevelled glass panels opening to a stunning leather lined interior with a lift out compartmented tray.

Complete with the original working lock and key.

It is a truly decorative piece which is also very practical and would make a lovely gift.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 20 cm x Width 25 cm x Depth 24 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 8 inches x Width 10 inches x Depth 9 inches

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel.

Tantalus

is a type of liquor decanter in which the bottle stoppers are locked down tightly by a metal bar. This was to prevent the theft of the contents by servants. Like the name suggests, the decanters themselves are visible, drawing temptation while unattainable. A key is required for entry.

The most common types of tantalus holds three bottles or decanters while there are also smaller types housing only two. There are many different forms of tantalus. Often the encasement has metal handles on both sides and ornately carved decor. Crystal and metal versions are also a beautiful option when choosing a tantalus.

Tantalus derived its name from the story of the mythological Greek king, Tantalus, mortal son of Zeus and Pluto. To be tantalized is to be tempted with the unattainable, and the king was sorely tested. He was condemned to an eternity in Hades for angering the Gods and was forced to stand forever in water that, when he bent to drink, would recede and to gaze upon foods he could only reach for and never grasp.

The 1800s saw our Victorian predecessors apply the King’s name to the lockable decanter.

Tantalus

is a type of liquor decanter in which the bottle stoppers are locked down tightly by a metal bar. This was to prevent the theft of the contents by servants. Like the name suggests, the decanters themselves are visible, drawing temptation while unattainable. A key is required for entry.

The most common types of tantalus holds three bottles or decanters while there are also smaller types housing only two. There are many different forms of tantalus. Often the encasement has metal handles on both sides and ornately carved decor. Crystal and metal versions are also a beautiful option when choosing a tantalus.

Tantalus derived its name from the story of the mythological Greek king, Tantalus, mortal son of Zeus and Pluto. To be tantalized is to be te

Physical Dimensions

Height

20cm (7.87")

Width

25cm (9.84")

Depth

24cm (9.45")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Coromandel Scent Bottle Casket to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1200718

Dealers Internal Reference

A5114

Description

This is a superb antique late Victorian brass mounted coromandel wood ladies combination scent bottle and jewellery casket of miniature tantalus form, Circa 1880 in date.

“

The whole tantalus has been decorated with angular brass mounts, the top has a vacant shield shaped cartouche, ready to be inscribed.

Regent Antiques

The mirrored rear section is inset with three cut glass circular scent bottles with facetted globular stoppers. The front is fitted with twin hinged covers that have inset bevelled glass panels opening to a stunning leather lined interior with a lift out compartmented tray.

fig 1. A nineteenth-century coromandel wood scent bottle casket with brass mounts opening to reveal cut-glass bottles and mirrored compartments. — fig 1. Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

Complete with the original working lock and key.

It is a truly decorative piece which is also very practical and would make a lovely gift.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century coromandel wood scent bottle casket with brass mounts opening to reveal cut-glass bottles and mirrored compartments. — fig 2. Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 20 cm x Width 25 cm x Depth 24 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 8 inches x Width 10 inches x Depth 9 inches

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century coromandel wood scent bottle casket with brass mounts opening to reveal cut-glass bottles and mirrored compartments. — fig 3. Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel.

fig 4. A nineteenth-century coromandel wood scent bottle casket with brass mounts opening to reveal cut-glass bottles and mirrored compartments. — fig 4. Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

Tantalus

is a type of liquor decanter in which the bottle stoppers are locked down tightly by a metal bar. This was to prevent the theft of the contents by servants. Like the name suggests, the decanters themselves are visible, drawing temptation while unattainable. A key is required for entry.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century coromandel wood scent bottle casket with brass mounts opening to reveal cut-glass bottles and mirrored compartments. — fig 5. Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

The most common types of tantalus holds three bottles or decanters while there are also smaller types housing only two. There are many different forms of tantalus. Often the encasement has metal handles on both sides and ornately carved decor. Crystal and metal versions are also a beautiful option when choosing a tantalus.

fig 6. A nineteenth-century coromandel wood scent bottle casket with brass mounts opening to reveal cut-glass bottles and mirrored compartments. — fig 6. Antique Coromandel Combination Scent Bottle/jewellery Casket Tantalus 19th C

Tantalus derived its name from the story of the mythological Greek king, Tantalus, mortal son of Zeus and Pluto. To be tantalized is to be tempted with the unattainable, and the king was sorely tested. He was condemned to an eternity in Hades for angering the Gods and was forced to stand forever in water that, when he bent to drink, would recede and to gaze upon foods he could only reach for and never grasp.