Perfume Bottle with Stopper

Art Historical Context

Created by the renowned Baccarat Glassworks in France during the late 19th century, this elegant perfume bottle exemplifies the luxury glassmaking traditions of the period. Standing just 16.5 centimeters tall, the compact vessel reflects the era’s growing fascination with personal adornment and the rising popularity of perfume as an everyday luxury. Baccarat, established in 1764, had become one of Europe’s premier crystal manufacturers by this time, supplying refined objects to both royalty and the emerging middle class. The bottle’s clear glass construction highlights the technical mastery for which Baccarat was celebrated, particularly their skill in cutting and polishing to achieve brilliant light refraction. Such pieces were often displayed on dressing tables as much for their beauty as for their function, embodying the Applied Arts of Europe’s emphasis on merging utility with artistic refinement. Today, this object offers visitors a glimpse into the sophisticated material culture of the Belle Époque, when everyday items were elevated to works of art through exceptional craftsmanship.

About the Artist

Baccarat Glassworks

Baccarat Glassworks, founded in 1764 in the Lorraine village of Baccarat, France, emerged from a royal decree by King Louis XV granting Bishop Monseigneur de Montmorency-Laval permission to establish a glass factory. Leveraging abundant local driftwood from the Vosges forest and skilled craftsmen, the works initially produced soda glass for windows, mirrors, and everyday stemware, employing thousa...