Pretty Napoleon III overlay cut crystal smelling salt bottle, dating from the second half of the 19th century.
This type of bottle, most often filled with stimulants based on ammonium carbonate or various acids, was used to revive a lady prone to fainting due to a too-tight corset. This very useful small object was always at hand at the time. Today, these small miniature bottles are collected and often highly sought after.
The word "overlay" refers to an object made of crystal or opaline formed of two or three opaque or translucent layers of different colors superimposed, but it can also refer to double or triple crystal on enamel. The object is then cold-cut in hollow or relief to form contrasting color reserves and reveal the pattern (source: Le Magazine de Proantic, August 6, 2015).
Here, the bottle is in 2 colors: opaque white or opaline and red. Originally, it was painted with golden motifs of which a few traces remain.
This bottle is very graceful and will look stunning in a display cabinet.
Note: the hinged stopper is missing and the bottle has a small defect in the red crystal on the top of each side (see photos).
Dimensions: height 7 cm, width 3 cm, weight 47 g.
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