A Viennese Silver and Enamel Perfume Bottle / Scent Bottle with Figural Cover

Description

A Viennese Silver and Enamel Perfume Bottle / Scent Bottle with Figural Cover. The perfume bottle is of elongated pear form with a rounded body rising to a narrow neck and detachable cover. The surface is decorated with hand painted enamel scenes set within a pastoral landscape populated by female figures and winged putti. One principal reserve depicts a seated maiden holding a basket of flowers accompanied by putti bearing floral garlands and a mirror, while additional scenes show cherubs in movement among trees, flowering shrubs, and open ground. The enamel painting employs soft tonal shading in pink, blue, green, and brown against a pale ground. The neck is decorated separately with scrolling arabesques, blue flowerheads, and stylized foliate ornament enclosing small mask motifs with radiating headdresses. Silver mounted collars with linear ornament divide the sections, while the circular foot is enriched with blue enamel and scrolling decoration. The cover is surmounted by a small silver figure standing upon an enamel dome. Viennese enamel objects of this type combined silver mounts with painted enamel decoration inspired by Rococo subjects and ornamental vocabulary. Bottles and scent flasks were produced in small scale and frequently featured pastoral scenes, scrolling ornament, and figural finials. The present example displays detailed enamel painting across both the body and neck, with multiple figural scenes and ornamental divisions integrated into a unified structure. The bottle retains detailed enamel decoration and silver mounted construction, representing a desirable and finely executed example of Viennese enamel work. Austria, Circa: 1860

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