A sterling silver and gold plated crystal ribbed scent bottle. This stunning scent bottle can be used for perfume or aftershave, or even for oil or vinegar on a dining table due to its size, a drinking flask for a small measure of your favourite tipple, given the cup at the bottom detaches, or simply enjoyed as the master piece in glass making it is. The bottle comprises of a bulbous round lid, which completely unscrews from the body, a similar vermeil base, which can double as a cup, and a stunning ribbed glass body.

The lid is distinguished by a finely modelled, separately applied coronet with five prominent pearl-shaped finials rising above an elaborately ornamented band. This form recalls the heraldic coronets traditionally associated with European nobility, particularly the French aristocracy.

Although the five-pearl arrangement does not conclusively identify a particular French noble rank, it is consistent with the broader tradition of aristocratic insignia used on privately commissioned luxury objects. Its presence on this Parisian Mouton bottle raises the possibility of an original commission for a titled individual or noble household, with the coronet serving as a discreet emblem of status and lineage.

In the absence of accompanying initials or armorial bearings, the original owner cannot be identified, but the coronet remains a compelling indication of the bottle’s possible aristocratic associations.

The base of the bottle is signed "Moutot" and its Rue de la Paix address. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Rue de la Paix was among the most fashionable shopping streets in Paris, home to some of the city’s finest jewellers, silversmiths and luxury retailers. Situated at number 18 was Maison Moutot, an establishment specialising in fine silverware, decorative objects and luxury accessories, catering to the tastes of an increasingly prosperous and cosmopolitan clientele.

Surviving examples bearing the Moutot name offer an interesting insight into the business. Rather than producing every object in its own workshops, the establishment appears to have operated as a luxury retailer, offering pieces made by accomplished French silversmiths. Among the makers associated with Moutot are Edmond Tétard, Pierre Gavard and Alfred Hector. Known examples include elaborate silver tea and coffee services, silver-mounted crystal, perfume bottles and decorative tableware. These objects reflect the considerable variety of luxury goods available through the fashionable Parisian retail trade.

The firm’s address was particularly significant. Rue de la Paix had established itself as a centre of Parisian luxury during the nineteenth century, attracting an international clientele drawn to the city’s reputation for craftsmanship, fashion and refined living. The street became synonymous with the elegance of the Belle Époque, a period when French decorative arts enjoyed extraordinary international prestige.

Although relatively little has been documented about the origins and eventual closure of Maison Moutot, surviving objects bearing the inscription Moutot, 18 Rue de la Paix, Paris preserve an interesting connection to this period of Parisian commercial history. They represent a time when the distinction between manufacturer and retailer was often secondary to the reputation of the establishment through which an object was sold, and when a prestigious Paris address carried considerable significance.

The condition of the piece is excellent throughout, having seen very little signs of being used. There is a little wear to the silver but the gold plating is clean and consistent throughout.  There are French assay and maker poinçon marks stamped into the cup and neck of the bottle. 

Made in France, England, 1900.

Height: 4.5"