Perfume Bottles, France (Paris), circa 1925, Saks Fifth Avenue (American, est. 1867), retailer, glass, Gift of Mrs. Thomas J. Reis, 1973.774a-b, 1973.775a-b

Verbal Description

Hello, my name is Emily Holtrop. I am the director of learning and interpretation at the museum. I will be reading the verbal description for the Perfume Bottles in Unlocking an Art Deco Bedroom by Joseph Urban.

The Perfume Bottles are from Paris, France, from circa 1925. They were sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, an American retailer established in 1867. They are made of glass. They were a gift from Mrs. Thomas J. Reis. Their accession numbers are 1973.774 a and b, and 1973.775 a and b.

This pair of glass rectangular Perfume Bottles are bright green and cut in a way that refracts light in a triangular pattern. Their bottle stoppers are fan-shaped in solid green glass. 

Label Copy

Hello, my name is Emily Holtrop. I am the director of learning and interpretation at the museum. I will be reading the label for the Perfume Bottles in Unlocking an Art Deco Bedroom by Joseph Urban.

The Perfume Bottles are from Paris, France, from circa 1925. They were sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, an American retailer established in 1867. They are made of glass. They were a gift from Mrs. Thomas J. Reis. Their accession numbers are 1973.774 a and b, and 1973.775 a and b.

The stepped, faceted forms of these perfume bottles and their fan-shaped stoppers embody the pure geometry, bold color, and syncopated rhythm that characterized the modern style, now known as Art Deco. Markings on the underside of this set indicate that they were made in Paris and sold by Saks Fifth Avenue. In her later years, Elaine recalled that these sat in her adjoining bathroom, which Urban also designed. There are no visual records of the bathroom, but she remembered it was "also black." 

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