CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

Novelty containers of this period included 'Oiselets de chypre' , the "birdies of Cyprus". The birds were supposed to be made from a recipe of the harems. a solid perfume mixture, originally made famous in the twelfth century, cinnamon, amber and tragacanth, molded in the shape of a bird. Other composition of those birds was reported in 1721 to include: willow charcoal, roots Cyperus, labdanum, sealant, incense, styrax, marjoram, cinnamon, clove, sandalwood citrine, red roses. These were then burned.

These were stored inside little silver or gold hanging cages, small lanterns or small boxes. Some of the boxes were made of porcelain, gold, silver, glass or enameled. In the Middle Ages, birdies of Cyprus, scented balls, made in the shape of birds, perhaps even covered with feathers of birds, and they burst to spread the powder scent