Description

A rare early English silver scent bottle with a screw top and attached chain with finger ring. The perfume flask is in the form of a miniature medieval pilgrim flask and is hand engraved with foliate decoration. The posy ring is inscribed inside “A” and “My night is all my delight” together with a little mouse figure.

Weight 29 grams, just under 1 troy oz.
Height 5.9cm. Width 3.1cm. Base measures 1 .8 x 1.3cm.
Probably London circa 1690.
Maker’s mark of E.H.

A very charming little collector’s piece.

Marks. Stamped to the front and reverse with maker’s mark “E.H” (unattributed). The silver has no other marks which is normal for small silver articles of this period.

Literature: The pilgrim flasks was designed to hold holy oil brought back from the Holy Land in early medieval times. It usually has a flat body, circular or pear shaped, with a short neck, spreading foot, and often a chain. It could be suspended around the neck or was sometimes hung on the bedpost for protection from demons at night.

The posy ring, popular from the 15th to the 17th century both in England and France, contained secret messages of love between the giver and the recipient. The name ‘posy’ comes from the French word ‘poésie’, for ‘poem’.