c. 1860s French Grand Tour Palais Royale Scent Bottle Caddy

Rare Victorian c. 1860s French Grand Tour Palais-Royal perfume set.

This special scent casket is from the Napoleon Palais-Royal period. Just the type of thing that someone would have picked up on the Grand Tour of Europe. 

The tiny thick clear crystal bottles feature hand painted scenic landmark eglomise caps set into ornate ormolu mountings. The painting on both bottles is in pristine condition.

Bottles measure approx. 2" tall and are housed in a leather treasure chest-shaped box with floral decoration. One bottle is missing its stopper. 

The interior of the box is off white silk. The box measures 3-3/8" wide by 2-1/4" deep and stands 2-3/8" tall not including the handle. I don't think the closure hinge is working and the piece is so fragile that I don't want to force it down.

These perfume caskets were often purchased from the shopping arcades at the famous Palais-Royal in Paris. The retail outlets sold luxury goods such as fine jewelry, furs, paintings and furniture to the wealthy elite. The peak of casket manufacture is the Napoleon III period from 1852 to 1870.

This is a fine example of that special period of time.