How do I identify the date of a silver perfume bottle?

British sterling perfume items typically carry hallmarks stamped onto the silver mount or lid. These marks include the assay office symbol, a standard mark for sterling silver, and a date letter corresponding to the year of testing. Additional maker marks identify the silversmith workshop responsible for the piece. Comparing these assay letters against published hallmarking records provides the exact year of manufacture.

Did these bottles come with glass stoppers?

Many antique scent bottles retain an inner glass stopper beneath the outer silver cap to prevent the liquid perfume from evaporating. Some smaller pocket flasks relied solely on a tightly fitted hinged lid with a cork or washer. The presence of an original inner glass stopper adds to the completeness of a dressing table bottle.

How should I clean antique silver and glass?

Silver mounts require gentle cleaning with a soft microfibre cloth and a mild silver polish formulated to remove tarnish without abrasive scrubbing. Care must be taken to avoid getting chemical polishes onto vulnerable enamel or antique glass surfaces. Glass bodies can be washed in warm, soapy water, provided the antique cement or cork seals holding the silver collar in place are kept dry.