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Other typical decorations include gilt cross-hatching, as seen in the examples shown in Figure 3, and simple gilt striped oval shapes painted in the recessed "thumbprints" of the bottle (as in Figure 4). Older examples often show shallow groove decorations cut into the glass (see Figure 5).
Don't forget to click on images to see a larger view! You'ss see the detail much better in the larger images.
Throwaway bottles are long and slender, the longest in the group shown in Figure 1 measures over 8" long. Their size and weight are well out of proportion to their capacity. The scent is contained in a tiny tear-shaped cavity, as shown in Figure 6. Sometimes the scent cavity is so tiny it only reaches the midpoint of the bottle, as shown in Figure 7, leaving the lower one-half to one-third solid glass (hence the weight). The bottle shown in Figure 8 still contains a full reservoir of dark liquid scent, and shows the teardrop cavity very clearly.
When throwaway bottles were purchased they came with glass stoppers ground to fit, and were generally sealed with wax. The top was then covered with a square of waxy paper and tied with string, all to protect the stopper and the contents. The bottle shown in Figure 9 still retains the remnants of its original paper and string. Figure 10 shows a much earlier bottle (possibly late 18th century) that came in a disposable pasteboard etui. The bottle was never opened, and still retains its original waxed paper and string cover, though the liquid scent has long ago evaporated.
Figure 3 |
Figure 4
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Figure 5
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Figure 6 |
Figure 7
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Figure 8
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Figure 9 |
Figure10
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Updated 6/1/06:
I continue to collect these scent bottles and have acquired several more since this Collection was originally posted. Here are four more bottles that I particularly like, each from the early 19th century, each with unique enamel decoration, each approximately 7" long. (Click on any image to see a larger version in a new window.)
Figure 11 |
Figure12
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Figure 13
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Figure 14
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For more information on scent bottles, see these sources:
Linda Brine and Nancy Whitaker, Scent Bottles Through the Ages, published by the authors, 1998.
Genevieve Cummins and Nerylla Taunton, Chatelaines, Antique Collectors Club, 1996.
Kate Foster, Scent Bottles, The Connoisseur, 1966.
G. Barnard Hughes, Small Antique Silverware, Bramhall House, 1957.
William Kaufman, Perfume, Dutton, 1974.
Edmund Launert, Scent and Scent Bottles, Barrie & Jenkins, 1974.
Madeleine Marsh, Perfume Bottles, Miller's, 1999.
Heiner Meininghaus, Five Centuries of Scent and Elegant Flacons, Arnoldsche, 1998.
Alexandra Walker, Scent Bottles, Shire Publications, 1996.
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