Chatelaine, bottle

This small bottle could have been used to hold perfume. It is finely chased with classical ornament and gilded with three-colour gold. The bottle is suspended on two flat chains of gold filigree from a belt hook decorated with a snake in the form of a Bowen knot. Traditionally this was called a 'true lovers' knot'.

The scent bottle came to the Museum as part of the bequest William Edward, second Viscount Harcourt (b. 1908), who played a very important role in the foundation of the Museum of London. He was chairman of its Board of Trustees from 1965 to 1975, and then of its Governors until his death in early 1979.