Topic: Ickle tiny VERY old perfume bottle, any ideas?

[Andy]

I couldnt resist this on ebay, a fiver and free post. (buy it now!)
Its a tiny little bottle (perfume?) 8 sided faceted in a little bone or ivory case. (screw lid )
Its got to be circa 1800.
Any comments welcome.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-4233
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-4232

ps the stopper is stuck, any suggestions to loosen it, its very delicate,
i seem to remember a way, maybe warm water, then cold??

Cheers Andy
nice to see board working again.

[Anne]

I'd be leery of hot then cold water Andy, as it may suffer thermal shock and crack.  What I do with bottles with stuck stoppers is fill a container with enough warm water to reach the top of the neck of the item and hold the item upright in the water for about 5 minutes. This warms the neck up enough to allow the stopper to come out easily.

[Andy]

Thanks Anne,
Ive just tried it, but its so delicate, im afraid to put much pressure on it,
i think i will leave it alone. I think it really is the smallest bottle ive ever
seen!
Regards Andy

[Andy]

Ive had a thought, theres no markings on the bottle, but the little ivory container is stained red, and a pattern then 'scratched' out and on the
base is a Butterfly with 4 'feelers' Im wondering early Baccarat??
Didnt they use a butterfly logo at some time??
Andy

[Pip]

Andy, to get the stopper off try drizzling a little olive oil around the rim and leave it for a while to try and seep down. I did this on a stuck stopper and after a little gentle jiggling it came free.

[Sue C]

Hi Andy, the case look oriental, could it be for smelling salts?

[Andy]

Thanks Dexter, could be smelling salts, maybe if i get stopper out
i will get a whiff! I agree with the Oriental idea, the case is nice,
but showing its age, and doesnt apear to have the quality of French,
but i still think its very old, and maybe , when new, was quite
impessive!
Andy