“Pleine Lune sur le Nil” (Full Moon on the Nile)
By Parfums De Burmann
On Friday April 28 the Perfume Bottles Auction conducted its live online auction in conjunction with the 35th annual IPBA convention, offering an exceptional variety of bottles and vanity items sourced from private collections around the world, all fresh to market and many extremely rare. Top result at $75,000 was the catalog cover bottle of Burmann's "Pleine Lune sur le Nil" (Full Moon on the Nile), inspired by the Luxor obelisk in Paris and created for Christmas 1934.
For online catalog click the link: Online Catalog
Les Parfums de Marcy
Of particular interest in this years auction were three remarkable 1920s trompe l'oeil (fool the eye) presentations by Parfums de Marcy including a complete "Le Collier Miraculeux" ("The Miraculous Necklace") aka "String of Pearls" with eleven graduated pearl finished bottles sold at $13,200; the "Le Bracelet Miraculeux" of five bottles encased as a sapphire and diamond bracelet $48,000; and the exceptional eight bottle "L' Orange" appearing as a half peeled orange in it's box $45,000.
Leading the sale was an exceptional c1930 Czechoslovakian bottle in black glass by Franz Josef Vater with Neiger Bros floral elements, featuring a never seen clear sapphire blue dauber-stopper which fetched $18,000; followed by two c1935 Curt Schlevoght "Ingrid" bottles in rare combination of onyx and ivory glass resulting in $27,000 and $30,000.
Leading the sale is an exceptional c1930 Czechoslovakian bottle in black glass by Franz Josef Vater with Neiger Bros. floral elements, featuring a never seen clear sapphire blue dauber-stopper; followed by a rare c1935 Curt Schlevoght "Ingrid" bottle combination of onyx and ivory glass in a bold leaf motif. Great bottles from other Czech glass manufacturers - such as Heinrich Hoffmann, Josef Schmidt, Johann Umann, and Hetra -will be among the 152 Lots offered this year.
Salvador Dalí for Schiaparelli “Le Roy Soleil” Sells for $12,500
Commonly referred to as “The Royal Sun,” this presentation celebrated the Allied victory in Europe in World War II. Named after Louis XIV, the “Sun King,” it harkened back to a glorious era in French history. The birds have been mistaken as seagulls, but in fact Schiaparelli chose “swallows” to symbolize positive change and a brighter future for France. The original hand written order, dated 1945 in the Baccarat archives, shows a request of 2,000 bottles.
The Duchess of Windsor having been one of the first to receive one, wrote to Schiaparelli: “It is really the most beautiful bottle ever made, and the Roy Soleil is a very lasting and sweet gentleman. I cannot tell you how I appreciate your giving me such a handsome present which has displaced the Duke’s photograph on the coiffeuse!” Schiaparelli wrote in her autobiography that it was “…too expensive and too sophisticated for the general public, but… not destined to die.”
The sale continued with various fashion accessories and vanity items including powder cases, atomizers, novelties and purses, highlighted by the striking 1930 Art Deco evening bag designed by Ana Grunfeld for John Wanamaker dept. store sold for $12,500.
Commercial presentations featured newly documented fragrance houses along with well known beauty and fashion brands, many in beautifully designed boxes such as the luxurious 1949 Caron "La Fete des Roses" golden bottle in drawer-slide box holding silk rose petals sold for $2,640; and Elizabeth Arden's "On dit" ("They say") figural bottle of ladies "whispering" in it's revolving musical box at $9,600.
Limited Catalogs are available for purchase
USA - $60 (Priority Mail)
International - $85 (Priority Mail)
International Express - $96.95
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Ken Leach
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For more information contact Ken Leach: ken@perfumebottlesauction.com