19thC Count Buquoys Glasshouse Hyalith Perfume Bottle Bohemian Asian Black Gold

  
An artists work does not have to be grand in scale for it to make a big impact on the heart, a sentiment amply illustrated by these diminutive scent bottles. The pieces are tiny, elegant sculptures; but ones intended to be touched, to bring a note of joy to every-day life. One of the bottles has a low, rounded form that nestles satisfyingly in the palm of your hand. The flaring mouth, with its scalloped rim, gives the impression of a flower opening, perhaps releasing its delicate scent into the night air.

The other has a hexagonal shape that gives it a somewhat architectural feel. The pieces are both decorated with silhouettes of exotic plants, meant to imply a far off landscape. Each serene landscape is occupied by a solitary human figure in Asian dress making their way to a seemingly remote pavilion.

The lustrous black of the hyalith glass is intended to imitate the high gloss of polished onyx. And the midnight hue is a perfect canvas for the rich gold of the hand painted Chinoiserie style decoration, the contrast between the deep black and the gleaming paint seems to animate the charming scenes that are unfolding on the surface of the pieces. Some of the gilding has details that were picked out with a second layer of gold, which adds dimension and richness to the decoration.

The bottles were made in the 1820s or 30s in the southern Bohemian factory of Count Buquoys Glasshouse. The taller piece measures approximately 3 1/4 tall, including the stopper, and 1 ¾ in diameter.

This is in good condition for glass of this age. There is a significant chip on the inner edge of the rim and smaller chips on some of the tips where the rim comes to a point.

The stopper does not seem to fit precisely, so it is likely a replacement from another bottle, though it is of the same period and same hyalith glass, so it is contemporary to the bottle. The second bottle measures about 1 1/8 tall and 2 across at the widest point. Both pieces have wear to the gold paint, particularly on the rim and on the remaining stopper, but they still retain most of the decoration. The repaired bottle also shows more significant loss to the gold on the shoulder, which appears to have originally been decorated with flowers, of which only traces now remain, and there is one area by the repair that looks like it was in-painted.

The bottom of the bottles have been cut flat and given a satin finish, and some of the faceting on the hexagonal piece have a lapidary appearance that leads me to believe this one was at least partially hand cut, nice details that reflect the overall quality of the glass. The item "19thC Count Buquoys Glasshouse Hyalith Perfume Bottle Bohemian Asian Black Gold" is in sale since Monday, December 3, 2018. This item is in the category "Antiques\Decorative Arts\Glass\Perfume Bottles". The seller is "epone" and is located in Sacramento, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country/Region of Origin: Czech Republic
• Primary Material: Glass
• Age: 1800-1849
• Type: Perfume Bottles
• Style: Asian
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Color: Black and Gold
• Maker: Count Buquoys Glasshouse