Rare Napoleon Era Military Officer's Vanity Kit, Campaign Necessaire, Ivory, 4 Levels of Tools, Scent Bottle, Razor, etc
French Napoleonic era military officer's 'campaign' travel vanity, "necessaire" c.1800-1818. I'm showing it so you can see the importance of scent/salts in that era, and where a lot of these tiny antique scent bottles come from. The scent flask has a silver cap with silversmith's tiny punch marks (poinçon). This one has an intricate swing-out layer which partially locks the case when it's closed, and also the original working lock and key. Essentials vary case to case, but typically include the items you see: razor, razor strop (sharpening), mirror (this one has been broken, retains only part of the original mirror), dental brush and tooth-scaling triangular head tool, scissors, ear wax spoon and tweezer or tongue scraper, shaving brush, small silver or tin box for tooth powders or soap. This one has a pair of boot pulls (hinged in centers), and a map ruler. Very likely purchased originally in Palais Royal boutique. Napoleon and his officers did frequent Palais Royal which by tha