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Scent Bottles

Collection Info
Scent Bottles

The Gardiner Museum holds a unique collection of 107 scent bottles produced across Europe, with a particular focus on factories located around London where they were a specialty.

At a time when clean water was scarce and used sparingly, perfume was used to suggest cleanliness. Perfume was a symbol of luxury, a sign of rank and social distinction. In addition to being worn on the self, it was added to gloves, items of clothing, bed linens and cosmetics.

The Gardiner’s collection illustrates the range of playful forms that scent bottles espoused, including animals, flowers and figures of lovers. Some examples present multiple containers for different fragrances, small boxes to store beauty patches, mirrors under the base, and rich gold mounts that enhanced the value of the object. A staple of elegance, these little luxuries were appreciated by men and women, and were kept on a dressing table or in a pocket.

Scent bottles were a personal interest of Helen Gardiner who established the collection.

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107 results
Two Boys and a Basket of Flowers
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.965.1-.2
Shepherdess
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.966
Boy with Basket of Eels
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.967.1-2
Gardener
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.968
Boy Stealing a Bird’s Nest
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.969.1-.2
Peacock
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.970.1-.2
“Provider” for the Monastery
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.972
Masked Janus-Head
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.973.1-3
Nun
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.974
Flower
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.975.1-.2
Cupid Holding Doves
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.977.1-.2
“Provider” for the Monastery
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.978
Berries
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.979
Basket of Fruit
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1758
Object number: G83.1.980.1-.2
Heart with Doves
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.981
Two Dolphins and a Shell
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1756
Object number: G83.1.982.1-.2
Wine-Flask with Straw Wrapping
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.983.1-.2
Wine-Flask with Straw Wrapping
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.984.1-.2
Duck and Ducklings
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1758
Object number: G83.1.985
Plums
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1756
Object number: G83.1.986
Gardener
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.987.1-.2
Gardener
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.988
Boy with Flute
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.989
Hen and Chicks
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755
Object number: G83.1.990