Cut and Gilt Crystal Toilet Bottle

📜 Description
Toilet scent bottle in cut and engraved crystal with gilt decoration, attributable to the production of the Cristalleries Saint-Louis during the First Empire period, early 19th century. The piece is distinguished by its balance between formal rigor and decorative richness, expressed through a language fully consistent with early 19th-century French ornamental culture.

The slender and well-proportioned form is defined by a carefully worked crystal body, where cutting and engraving articulate the surface with clarity and continuity. A refined gilt decoration of floral, vegetal and geometric motifs is applied with restraint, lending the object a composed sense of preciousness. The stopper, consistent in typology and design, completes both the functional and compositional integrity of the piece.

In terms of typology and execution, the object belongs to the production of toilette bottles intended for personal use and refined interiors, where engraved crystal and gilding contribute to a synthesis of function and decorative presence.

📚 Art Historical Note
During the First Empire period, French decorative arts developed a language grounded in formal clarity, compositional discipline and refined execution. Within this context, glass and crystal production achieved particularly high standards, combining material transparency with decorative vocabularies of classical and naturalistic inspiration.

The Cristalleries Saint-Louis held a prominent position in this field, distinguished by the precision of its cutting, the quality of its engraving and the elegance of its gilded ornament. The present bottle fits coherently within this tradition, reflecting a material culture in which function and aesthetic refinement are closely intertwined.

🧾 Technical Sheet
Type: Toilet bottle / perfume bottle
Manufacture: attributable to Cristalleries Saint-Louis
Place: France
Period: First Empire, early 19th century
Material: Crystal
Technique: Cutting, engraving and gilt decoration
Decoration: Gilded floral, vegetal and geometric motifs
Dimensions: Height 14 cm; maximum diameter 5.5 cm

🔍 Condition Report
Overall good condition, consistent with age and function. The gilding shows general wear, with light surface abrasions and minor signs of age. The stopper, appropriate to the piece, presents slight wear and small surface marks. The object retains good structural integrity and clear decorative legibility.