Antique French Hallmarked Silver Cut Crystal Opera 'Spirits' Liquor Flask Bottle

Description

Description
An antique early 1900's French .800 silver and gilt vermeil liquor flask decorated with elegant modernist / Art Deco styling. Featuring a tapered cut crystal body, adorned with wheel cut fluting. Surmounted with silver mounts enhanced with a stunning gilt vermeil finish. Comprising of a large knob lid with cork lined interior and threaded collar, with a detachable drinking cup a the base. Hallmarked with the French crab for 800/1000 purity silver in use since 1838. Bearing maker's marks for silversmith André Endrey, active 1909 at 1 rue de Normandie, Paris. Measures 6" length. In overall good condition with general wear from use. There are two small shallow indentations to the lid. The gilt vermeil finish is in good order. No chips or cracks to the glass.
Sometimes mistaken for a perfume bottle, bottles such as these were originally serviceable as portable flasks indented for liquor, 'spirits', absinthe or tonics and herbals. Though certainly usable for perfume if desired and are perfect to display among scent bottle collections. These flasks could easily hold a substantial amount of one's favorite liquor, to be served in the detachable tumbler or drinking cup at the base and ideal for a 'shot' of whiskey or flavored liqueur. These highly collectible 'spirit' flasks are known as carriage flasks, handy for short travel and easily stow-able in a purse or pocket during a night out at the theatre or opera. Also referred to as a flacon a eau de melisse, after a type of herbal 'spirits' similar to absinthe made from lemon balm favored for its fresh citrus taste and used as a tonic against migraines. A convenient accessory for a suitable "restoratif" on a cold carriage journey or at a tedious social event.
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