Scent Bottle
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Although the enamels on this scent bottle must have been inspired by those decorating gold boxes and watches from early 18th century Paris, the absence of a hallmark means it cannot possibly be French. Its type of decoration is similar to that of English watches and chatelaines of that period, so it is surprising that there is no record of an English snuffbox in this style.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Enamelled and engraved gold |
| Brief description | Enamelled gold scent bottle, England, ca.1750 |
| Physical description | Gold scent bottle, of flattened pearshape form, cast in two halves, engraved overall and enamelled with opaque flowers and butterflies in pink and blue, with translucent green foliage. The flaring foot is enamelled with similiar flowers and foliage, the detachable stopper with openwork flowers of opaque pink. The red-leather case is tooled with gilt. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | No marks |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Sale, Christie's, London, lot 38, 13/07/1994. S.J. Phillips, London. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Although the enamels on this scent bottle must have been inspired by those decorating gold boxes and watches from early 18th century Paris, the absence of a hallmark means it cannot possibly be French. Its type of decoration is similar to that of English watches and chatelaines of that period, so it is surprising that there is no record of an English snuffbox in this style. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
| Bibliographic reference | Truman, Charles.The Gilbert collection of gold boxes, volume II, London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd., 1999, cat. no. 36, p. 60. ISBN.0856675210 |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.332:1, 2-2008 |
About this object record
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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