Edwardian Silver Scent Flask
An edwardian silver scent flask is a pocket vessel for perfume, combining precious metal mounts with glass, designed for portable refinement.
Edwardian Silver Scent Flask
When you search for an edwardian silver scent flask, you encounter pocket vessels designed to hold perfume during the early twentieth century. The specimens on this page encompass various forms, from straightforward glass cylinders with silver lids to elaborate overlay designs.
While the label points to the Edwardian period, the selection extends across related eras like the Victorian epoch and the George V years. These pieces served a daily social function for ladies and gentlemen who carried fragrance in pockets or reticules.
Distinctions in Quality
Quality rests on the crispness of the silver work and the complexity of the glass body. Fine examples feature heavy cast or pierced silver overlays rather than thin stamped metal caps.
The integration between the silver mount and the glass vessel dictates the standard of manufacture. Superior pieces demonstrate precise fitting of hinged lids and stoppers that seal the contents securely.
Listings feature sterling silver combined with cranberry glass, cut crystal, and guilloche enamel across the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Harold Bushell and Co·G H James and Co·Barnsley and Co·Sampson Mordan·Gorham
The Edwardian Silver Scent Flask Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, typically copper. This standard alloy provides the durability required for functional pocket items.
- Guilloche enamel
- A decorative technique where a precise geometric pattern is mechanically engraved beneath a translucent layer of enamel. It appears frequently on the lids of early twentieth-century examples.
- Overlay glass
- A method where a layer of coloured glass is cased over a clear or contrasting glass body and partially cut away to reveal the design beneath.
- Double end bottle
- A vessel featuring compartments at both ends, allowing the owner to carry two different scents or a scent and smelling salts simultaneously.
Edwardian Silver Scent Flask: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an edwardian silver scent flask?
It is a small portable container made during the Edwardian era, featuring a glass or crystal body enclosed or mounted in sterling silver.
These flasks allowed individuals to carry personal fragrance or smelling salts while away from the dressing table.
How were these flasks used?
Owners carried them in pockets, handbags, or travel cases to refresh personal scent throughout the day or to combat unpleasant odours in public spaces.
Gentlemen often utilised lockable cologne bottles for travel, while ladies kept decorative glass flasks in their reticules.
How do I identify an Edwardian piece?
Identification relies on assay office hallmarks stamped into the silver mounts, which indicate the exact year of manufacture and the city of testing.
Stylistic markers such as flowing Art Nouveau motifs or specific maker's marks also help date the object to the early 1900s.
Are the glass stoppers usually present?
Many surviving examples retain their internal glass or cork stoppers beneath the outer silver cap, though some have lost them over time.
The presence of the original inner stopper adds completeness to the piece for collectors.
How should I display them?
These flasks sit well on dressing tables, in glass cabinets, or arranged on mirrored trays where light can pass through the coloured and cut glass.
Keeping them away from direct heat sources protects any internal cork components and the stability of older glass.