Sprinkler Bottle Caps c1890s

In the late Victorian era, sprinkler caps (also known as shaker tops or crown tops when in the shape of crowns) were used on perfume, barber or powder bottles. Usually made up of pewter, lead, brass, these are often given a gilded or silvered finish. More expensive examples are made up of solid silver or gold.

To use: turn the cap counter-clockwise. Turn bottle upside down, then shake over the skin.

• Many of these are crown shaped, other, more rare examples feature figural motifs.
• The floral type consists of roses, chrysanthemums, pansies, tulips, and bouquets.
• The animal or bird figurals feature peacocks, lions, fox, dogs, cats, etc.
• Sometimes, you may come across human heads or busts.

If your bottle is missing it's crown top, you can order a replacement from SCENTserely here.

The above image is a patent drawing for an atomizer (on left) and fancy perfumery sprinkler cap (on the right). The hardware was patented on July 3, 1900 by Joseph Albiez. The fancy sprinkler cap is the usual open rose design we often encounter.The patent number is 653, 193.

Below is an excerpt from the patent text:

"When my invention is used on fancy perfumery-bottles, the stopper is formed of a hollow cap, on the interior of which is placed the small washer heretofore spoken of, and this cap is screw-threaded internally and has at its bottom or lower end a flange which curves or flares outwardly, so as to exactly fit when screwed down upon the collar the flange or curve on the collar attached to the bottle.

It is my intention to use my invention in connection with fancy perfumery-bottles, so that the perfume can be sprinkled from the bottle by merely shaking it, and the contents are then ejected from the two small ducts in the fancy cap, and in order to do this the stopper is cast in one piece and is screw threaded externally at its top, and the cap or Figure l is a side view of the atomizer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my invention, showing the same when used as a sprinkler. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of my invention, showing the same when used as a stopper for fancy bottles."