www.925-1000.com

Hello all,

I am wondering if anyone has any insights about this box?

It's unmarked, about 2.7 cm x 2.6 cm.

Is it possible that this is 17th/18th century German silver or am I a million miles off?

Any help greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi Bamunka,

your box is a scent box.

"The desire to carry aromatic essences about with one in a special receptacle was widespread by Roman times, as a bronce scent vessel indicates.
A globular vessel braced with miniature struts could hold a sponge which was drechned into aromatic essences.
The roman form already enticipates the scent vessels which were so widespread in Europe from the 15th century.

The most precious scent of that period was musk or must, a solid animal secretion, now still known in German-speaking countries as Moschus, which gives off a powerful scent when moistened.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything specific about the age.
I suspect your box on is not as old as the scent box pictured in the book.







Lit.:
Heiner Meininghaus, Christa Habrich, Düfte und edle Flacons, Five centuries of scent and Elegant Flacons, Stuttgart 1998, p. 52-54.

Regards
Silverstone