Exceptional Antique Louis XVI Gold Enamel Scent Bottle

Circa 1780
This is one of the finest enameled gold scent bottles that has ever appeared on the market. This elaborate multi-color enamel and gold scent / perfume bottle was made during the reign of king Louis XVI of France. The octagon shape gold body of the bottle is embellished with four chocolate brown enamel medallions painted en grisaille with classical busts. Two of the medallions are painted with pedestalled busts of Plato and Hippocrates. The other two medallions in profile are likely of 18th century thinkers (one of them, possibly, being a bust of Montesquieu). The painting of classical antiquity objects entirely in shades of gray (Grisaille) against brown background was intended to resemble cameos. This technique was fashionable in the 1770s and 1780s. A good example of grisaille painting is the Cameo porcelain service which was commissioned by Russian Empress Catherine II the Great in 1776-1777 and produced at Sevres in France in 1778-1779. The scent bottle decorations have a similar color palette to the Cameo service: blue on gold and purple on white.

Height is 58 mm (2 1/4 in.)
Width is 25 mm (1 in.)
Weight – 58 grams.

The very high quality of enamel and gold work, as well as exceptional grissaille painting of the miniature portraits, suggests that this scent bottle was commissioned by a very wealthy patron of the arts. The bottle also has a substantial gold weight. Marked on the stopper and near the hinge with later eagle shape French assay mark.