René Lalique’s scent bottles are coveted primarily because they are incredibly beautiful. Like with so many things in life, it is visual appeal that immediately captures our attention...
Art Nouveau enthusiasts will be delighted by an exceptional sale of René Lalique’s scent bottles. In the last decade of the nineteenth century, artist René Lalique turned his attention to glass. Famously, he designed bottles for the perfumier François Coty (an example is offered as lot 13) and for his own brand, Mason Lalique. Ever since, the perfume industry has made bespoke bottles for their fragrances.
The incredible collection for sale was formed by a single collector over many years. UK auction house Lyon & Turnbull will host the sale, Lalique | A Private Collection of Scent Bottles, online on Thursday 17 February.
Speaking on the quality of the objects, Senior Specialist Joy McCall says "in well over twenty-five years of handling Lalique, I have not had the privilege of working on such a specific Lalique scent bottle sale. I can compare pieces I have never seen before."
In discussing the bottles' collectability, McCall continues, "René Lalique’s scent bottles are coveted primarily because they are incredibly beautiful. Like with so many things in life, it is visual appeal that immediately captures our attention and it is no different with these bottles. This was the case for the vendor who spotted the bottles in publications while he was researching vases and decided to investigate further."
"Lalique’s bottles are also historically important. It was Lalique, together with François Coty, who revolutionised the perfume industry. Coty believed that fragrance should be affordable and that it should be beautifully presented, while Lalique had a complementary goal to produce exquisite glass using industrial techniques. What resulted was the introduction of bespoke perfume bottles, packing and labels for specific scents and ever since the fragrance industry has invested huge amounts of time and energy in branding. Another appeal of scent bottles is that they don’t require a vast amount of space to store or display, so are ideal for any collector."
Turning to the catalogue, Cyclamen Scent Bottle, COTY – 2, was the very first perfume bottle Lalique designed in entirety for commercial purposes. Made for Coty in 1909, it remains one of the most iconic designs the artist ever produced. This historic piece helped the artist revolutionise the perfume industry.
One of the finest treasures in the collection is the Pavot Scent Bottle. The rose design was technically so challenging to make that very few exist. A real masterpiece and achievement in glassmaking, this would be a delight for any collector.
Another rare bottle available is the Althea Scent Bottle. This unique bottle may have never been put into full production, making it a very special offering on the market. Glass collectors will appreciate its beautiful sepia staining.
René Lalique’s scent bottles are coveted because they are so incredibly beautiful, and this piece is no exception. The central design on this piece is a Pierrot, a male pantomime. Lalique’s striking interpretation is a sale highlight.
One of the most iconic pieces is this beautiful pearl box. Lalique designed the glass box in 1936 to mark the tenth anniversary of Adam Gimbel’s management of Saks on Fifth Avenue. Only one hundred of the bottles were produced in a limited edition, meaning that this sale presents a rare opportunity to own one.
The butterfly design of this beautiful piece showcases fantastic amber and sepia colouring. At 8cm high, this piece is the perfect size for a collector with limited space to display.
Also available are four of Lalique’s Amphitrite Scent Bottles, each in a slightly different shade. Complete with a swirling shell design and beautiful goddess stopper, each of these bottles holds incredible visual appeal.
The collection includes four Bouchon Cassis bottles. Identified by a stunning tiara-form stopper moulded as a string of currants, the head of Sale and Senior Specialist Joy McCall identifies these bottles as one of her personal favourites: "I have always been quite taken by the tiara-form stopper moulded as a string of currants and the vibrant colours of the stoppers. In the sale I have four different coloured examples, which is amazing as usually I would be delighted to just have an example."
Another of the specialist's favourites is the Tantôt bottle. "I love the compressed oval form surmounted by the crest- or fan-shaped stopper, and the graphic design on the bottle itself," says McCall. "It is not only a rare bottle but one that I feel captures the elegance of the Art Deco style. It was designed in 1925 the year of the Paris exposition internationale design arts décoratifs et industriels modernes, out of which was coined the term Art Deco and for which René Lalique created a colossal fountain."
