Perfume bottle (one of six) (part of a set) 1728 - 1730

This perfume bottle, one of six, was made by Louis Mailly, likely in France, sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century, fashioned from glass and metal. Consider the making of this object. It would have involved a glassblower, likely working in a team, blowing and shaping the bottle while still molten. The ribbed surface would have been achieved using a mold, and the metal cap was probably cast using the lost-wax process and then carefully fitted to the glass. The bottle's clear glass allows the perfume's color to shine, and the metal cap adds a touch of luxury and refinement. The weight of the glass in the hand, the precision of the cut ribs, and the preciousness of the metal all speak to the value placed on personal adornment during the period. Objects like these show how design and craft were deeply intertwined with trade and the development of consumer culture. By considering the materials, making, and context, we gain a richer understanding of the object and its place in history, and the blurred boundaries of fine art and craft.