Unusual perfume bottles make for an aromatic auction
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 7th September, 2018
A fascinating collection of perfume bottles is among the highlights of Philips Auctions forthcoming decorative arts sale from noon Sunday September 16 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.
The collection – 44 18th and 19th century bottles in all – belongs to long-time collectors Peter Baker-Finch and Walter Grench and features many unusual porcelain creations by leading manufacturers.
Typical is the 1850-60 “Provender for the Monastery” figure attributed to Meissen. Another is the 1880s gilded cornucopia perfume bottle attributed to Moser.
Collectors are bound to be intrigued by the 1760s Chelsea porcelain ‘toy’ perfume bottle “Cupid on the Donkey”. It features a cupid, with quiver and holding a ribbon astride a braying donkey and is part of the illustrated ‘Chelsea & Other English Porcelain: Untermeyer Collection”, 1957 by Y. Hackenbroch.
An 1860s Continental porcelain pair in the Meissen style, with Helena Wulfsohn Augustus Rex marks is another strong attraction, while an 1850s French shield shape hand decorated perfume bottle with the mark of Oriot is further collector drawcard.
A Chinese blue and white plate and basin bowl, both early 17th century late Ming Dynasty and part of the Binh Thuan shipwreck – a 1608 Chinese junk that foundered 40 nautical miles off Vietnam’s Binh Thuan Province with 34,000 porcelain items and iron pans on board – are other auction highlights.
Porcelain collectors also should be interested in First Period Worcester items including a 1770s lozenge-shaped dish with Rococo mirror and vase-shaped cartouches.
An 1835 three-piece Coalport Rococo vase garniture is another attraction, while an 1800-1802 sugar box decorated by William Billingsley is bound to excite bidders.
An 1880s pair of Samson of Paris porcelain peacocks bearing faux Chelsea gold anchor marks should attract plenty of auction goers while for those looking to entertain lavishly at home the six-leaf Victorian mahogany dining table and with 12 matching chairs should be right up their alley.
