William B. Kerr & Co - Pair Of Perfume Bottles In Sterling Silver And Cut Crystal, 19th Century.

Elegant pair of perfume bottles by WILLIAM B. KERR & Co. The body is in crystal cut with ovals forming medallions and receives an engraved decoration of pearls, braided palm leaves and flowers. The silver cap with an animated shape is engraved in the upper part on a guilloche background with a fine engraved decoration with the motif of a covered urn on a mound framed with acanthus leaves, garlands of flowers and foliage, ribbon knots and medallions. The central part in reserve intended to receive a monogram is still free of engraving. The bottles rest on solid silver bases.

Double hallmarked with a swan (silver french guarantee hallmark for imports).

American hallmarks: ​​​​​​
•    STERLING in full (caps and bases).
•    Master goldsmith's mark for WILLIAM B. KERR & Co.

Gross weight: 504 grams.

American work around 1880.

Very good condition for this very elegant pair of perfume bottles which still has its caps and perfume diffusers in perfect condition by one of the very beautiful American goldsmith houses of the 19th century.

WILLIAM B. KERR & Co was founded in Newark, New Jersey in 1855, home to many of the finest jewelry and silversmithing houses in the country at that time. KERR specializes in jewelry, cutlery and toiletries. It will have an Art Nouveau production of recognized quality. In 1893 she advertised Bouguereau's "Great masterpieces in silver" in the form of two matchboxes and a dance card representing frolicking nymphs and winged cherubs, motifs subsequently declined in house jewelry.
KERR was bought by the GORHAM MANUFACTURING CORPORATION in 1906. In 1922, GORHAM announced that the Gorham Toilet Ware lines were transferred to the former KERR factory in order to improve the quality of its products.

Pieces by WILLIAM B. KERR & Co can be found in the collections of many American museums, including:
•    MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, Houston
•    VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, Richmond
•    BROOKLYN MUSEUM, New-York
•    RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN MUSEUM, Providence, RI
•    CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ARTS, Pittsburg
•    CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART, Norfolk

BIBLIOGRAPHY
•    VENABLE Charles L., Silver in America, 1840-1940, Magazine Antiques, December 1994.
•    CARPENTER Charles H., Gorham Silver, 1831-1981 - N.Y., Dodd, Mead, 1983.