Meissen
“Monk Carrying a Young Woman on His Back” perfume bottle in overglaze enamels

The monk has a duck in his left hand, a basket with eggs in his right, and is carrying straw on his back. Look closely, however, and you will see the face of a young woman in the straw. This figurine satirizes the monk, clothed in piety, in a work that demonstrates a playful and very witty spirit.

Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin
Perfume bottle with angel in overglaze enamels

An angel holding a torch is depicted on the front, a bouquet of flowers on the back. The lid is in the shape of a golden carp, for a perfume bottle with a unique combination of elements. On the underside of the base are a king’s scepter in underglaze blue, a sacred orb, and “KPM” in overglaze red, indicating its origin at KPM, the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (Royal Porcelain Factory in Berlin).

Chelsea
“Harlequin” perfume bottle in overglaze enamels

The Chelsea pottery, founded in Britain in 1745, produced many figurine perfume bottles inspired by Meissen ware. They proved quite popular. The harlequin performer, in colorful clothing and a black mask, was an ideal subject for perfume bottles, and other kilns produced similar works.

Wedgwood
Perfume bottle with goddess and angel motif

Wedgwood, which was founded in Britain in 1759, invented a new type of product, Jasperware, which became very popular. Jasperware was admired for its decoration in the Neo-Classical style then fashionable and was imitated by potteries throughout Europe. This Jasperware perfume bottle with classical-style figures in relief became a popular product that was mass produced in a variety of vessel forms.

Royal Copenhagen
Perfume bottle with floral motif

Royal Copenhagen is a famous pottery founded in Denmark in 1775 to provide ceramics for the royal family. At the 1889 Paris Expo, it exhibited works painted in underglaze colors, for which it won the Grande Prix. This example, in the Art Nouveau style, presents a dainty flower in tender colors in a work that is elegant indeed.

Nippon Toki
Lustreware perfume bottle with bird and flower motif

Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha is ceramics manufacturing company founded in 1904 by the export trading company Morimura-gumi. Nippon Toki’s products are widely known as “old Noritake.” Art Deco period works such as these were particularly popular. Lusterware uses, over a base color, a metallic oxide that, when fired, becomes iridescent. All the decoration on these wares was hand painted.