What the heck is this?

[judyewright]

This silver and glass thingy on a chain, with two bottles (cork stoppers). Some sort of weird oil and vinegar cruet thing?

[mart]

Thats odd !!  Are there marks on the silver part ??  Are the bottles corked ??  Is there a latch on the chain or is it solid ??  Does anything hold the bottles in ??

[ghopper1924]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that it's some type of Victorian chatelaine (chain) arrangement for perfume bottles. Usually its just for one bottle; I've never seen one with two.

Nevertheless, this may be over 100 years old and worth something. Perfume bottles are particularly hard to find with the stoppers intact.

Or....you may be right: oil and vinegar. Discriminating diners could take their condiments with them on a chain.

[mart]

How would the chain work ??  Looks like they are meant to sit upright,,,what would hold the bottles to the chain ??  I have not seen anything like this !!  How big are these bottles ?? 

[Ipcress]

Hallmarks on the left bottle - might help if we know those

[mart]

Right !!

[ghopper1924]

Upon magnifying the picture it looks like there is a hinge between the bottles, and that they might rest together "butt to butt."

I HAVE seen Victorian perfume bottles with two chambers, sometimes called "half and halfs."

[mart]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Victorian+chatelaine+perfume+bottles&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b

Victorian perfume bottles were usually more elaborate than these !!

[Rauville]

Check the link below for a set of "Opera Glasses / Smelling Salts..." (Go down to 4th row, right hand side.).
http://www.antiquecolouredglass.info/Scent%20Bottles.htm

[mart]

Excellent Rauville,, Should have known that you would know what they are !!  Would these have glass in the "glasses" part ??
The link didn`t give a price to reference !!  What does one do with the smelling salts when using the opera glasses ??  Glasses are not very fashionable but I guess they work !!

[Ipcress]

How could you look throw those with the covers in that position ?!

[Ipcress]

I’m amazed these didn’t catch on.....


http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/38893/c1870-double-ended-binocular-opera-glass-form-scent-perfume-bottle/

[cogar]

How would the chain work ??  Looks like they are meant to sit upright,,,what would hold the bottles to the chain ?? I have not seen anything like this !!  How big are these bottles ??

When photo is enlarged, one can see there is a groove around the base of the bottle for the clasp to hold it.

[ghopper1924]

I’m amazed these didn’t catch on.....


http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/38893/c1870-double-ended-binocular-opera-glass-form-scent-perfume-bottle/

Double-ended perfume? That sounds weirdly familiar.......

[KC]

Nice catch Rauville. 

I don't see how they work either - except that it was a novelty (kind of like Avon made their containers novel over the years.)