Need opinions on a recent eBay purchase. First let me say that I’m a 25-year member of the International Perfume Bottle Association (IPBA). My collecting specialty is commercial bottles pre-1900 to 1940s. I’m a collector/dealer. This bottle was purchased for my collection -– not for resale.
In my haste to Buy-It-Now, didn’t notice the bottle measured 10” long – unusually large for a perfume bottle. I’ve seen perfume bottles made in the shapes of guns, generally small in size, 4” or 5” long, in clear glass. However, I’ve never seen this shape or color before.
My gut feeling – this bottle is not as old as the markings would indicate. Is it an antique, a repro, a recast? Wouldn’t a bottle that is 130 years old have the patina of life – light scratches? little dings here and there? This one is just as shiny as the day it was produced.
Shape: Gun.
Color: Brown or very dark amber.
Size: 10” long x 4 1/2” high (overall from bottom of handle to the highest point on top).
Weight: 12 oz. (very heavy for an empty perfume bottle).
Don’t know the parts of a gun – will do my best to describe.
Molded into the glass above the trigger area:
Side 1 – “Patented Nov 6th 1888”
Side 2 – “Standard Perf Wk’s” (this company is documented as Standard Perfumery Works, N.Y.)
No other markings.
Opening to bottle is smooth. End of barrel is bent. Multi-faceted barrel shows striations in the glass, and an area that simulates the look of a dent that might be found on a real gun. Visible seams all-over that pretty much disappear in the facets on the top and bottom of the barrel.
No stopper. A bottle this old would have had a cork stopper, or possibly a cork attached to a cotter pin with ring. Missing stoppers are common on pre-1900 perfume bottles.
Tried searching for a design patent on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s web site. Was hoping to find a patent drawing that would show the detailed design and possibly the specs for this bottle. Gave up after half an hour – it’s like trying to find a needle in a hay stack. Can someone tell me how to navigate my way through the P&TO’s mountain of codes and links to find what I want? Would appreciate it.
Have not left feedback for the eBay seller. Will wait to hear comments.
My sister and I are collector/dealers. We have a web site where we sell vintage perfume bottles – www.scentserely.com.
Joan, Austin, TX
Resized pics twice. Hope they're not too big.
