Scent Bottle
ca. 1749-1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This bottle was a container for a woman's scent. It was most probably kept on a dressing table, for it would have been easy either to damage the bottle or spill its contents. Even so, some scent bottles of this general type survive with hinged and fitted leather travelling cases.
People
The bottle was made at the factory of Charles Gouyn (died 1785), a second-generation Huguenot with a jeweller's shop in St James's, London. Gouyn had been a partner in the Chelsea porcelain factory before starting his own factory around 1748-9.
Materials & Making
Several lead-casting models for Chelsea porcelain scent bottles of this general type survive. The shape was probably first modelled in wax and a lead casting model was then made from the wax original. These lead models were used to make the plaster moulds in which the porcelain bottles were formed by slip-casting. In this process a mixture of clay and water is poured into a hollow mould. The water then evaporates, leaving a thin layer of the clay mixture clinging to the inside of the mould. The mould would have been made in two pieces so that it could be taken apart once the bottle had been cast.
This bottle was a container for a woman's scent. It was most probably kept on a dressing table, for it would have been easy either to damage the bottle or spill its contents. Even so, some scent bottles of this general type survive with hinged and fitted leather travelling cases.
People
The bottle was made at the factory of Charles Gouyn (died 1785), a second-generation Huguenot with a jeweller's shop in St James's, London. Gouyn had been a partner in the Chelsea porcelain factory before starting his own factory around 1748-9.
Materials & Making
Several lead-casting models for Chelsea porcelain scent bottles of this general type survive. The shape was probably first modelled in wax and a lead casting model was then made from the wax original. These lead models were used to make the plaster moulds in which the porcelain bottles were formed by slip-casting. In this process a mixture of clay and water is poured into a hollow mould. The water then evaporates, leaving a thin layer of the clay mixture clinging to the inside of the mould. The mould would have been made in two pieces so that it could be taken apart once the bottle had been cast.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Soft-paste porcelain, painted in enamels, with gem-set gilt-metal mounts |
| Brief description | Scent bottle in the form of a woman carrying a basket of flowers, made at the factory of Charles Gouyn in St James's, London, ca. 1749-1760 |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
SCENT FLASK AND CASKET
Charles Gouyn, whose factory made these pieces, was a jeweller. His factory was the first in England to make porcelain scent bottles, bodkin cases and similar items. These were known as 'toys' in the 18th-century. Large numbers of porcelain and metal 'toys' were exported to continental Europe.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made at the factory of Charles Gouyn (born in Dieppe, France, died in London, 1785) in St James's, London |
| Production | Made at the factory of Charles Gouyn in St James's, London |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This bottle was a container for a woman's scent. It was most probably kept on a dressing table, for it would have been easy either to damage the bottle or spill its contents. Even so, some scent bottles of this general type survive with hinged and fitted leather travelling cases. People The bottle was made at the factory of Charles Gouyn (died 1785), a second-generation Huguenot with a jeweller's shop in St James's, London. Gouyn had been a partner in the Chelsea porcelain factory before starting his own factory around 1748-9. Materials & Making Several lead-casting models for Chelsea porcelain scent bottles of this general type survive. The shape was probably first modelled in wax and a lead casting model was then made from the wax original. These lead models were used to make the plaster moulds in which the porcelain bottles were formed by slip-casting. In this process a mixture of clay and water is poured into a hollow mould. The water then evaporates, leaving a thin layer of the clay mixture clinging to the inside of the mould. The mould would have been made in two pieces so that it could be taken apart once the bottle had been cast. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2000-1855 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
