Green Crystal Perfume Atomizer

While green colored crystal is not uncommon in the perfume bottle world, this coloration was created by Czech artists, not US impersonators, in the time before WWII. This bottle seems to have been imported by a major importer in New York in the 1930s onward, Irice (Irving W. Rice Co). Though the atomizer on this bottle is now defunct, it once would have had a glass tube connected to a ball that, when squeezed, allowed the user to spray the perfume in a mist.

Additionally, this piece has a unique and interesting ornate design. To create this color of crystal, glassmakers add the natural metal Cadmium to the formula, causing a chemical reaction and creating the deep emerald color seen here. To create the geometric cuts in the crystal, especially those in the large stopper, were likely created using a wheel-cutting technique. In this process, a rotating wheel of hardened metal, coated with an abrasive, is used to cut the straight lines into the crystal. There are also smaller versions of this, in the wheel-engraving technique which involves a smaller, handheld copper rotating wheel. For some of the more detailed parts, it is possible they were created using a diamond-engraving technique. This means that a tool with a diamond tip or other similarly hard material was used to scratch small details into the design. While it is very tough to know which of these methods were used in which part of which piece, the combination of all three methods are sure to demonstrate how the cut glass came to become such a beautiful piece of art. 

However, this perfume bottle offers more than just cut glass details. There is additionally some beautiful jewelwork and gold filigree to compliment the piece. These details are less common than the cut glass pieces and undoubtedly were reflected in its value when the bottle was sold. There are very small details of pearl and emerald gemstone interwoven with thin links of gold. The result is a lavish looking perfume bottle with art deco-style features such as symmetry, geometry, and the use of gold gilting.

ARTIST

Unknown Czech Artist, Imported by Irice (Irving W. Rice Co., NY)

TITLE

Green Cut Crystal Perfume Atomizer and Gilted, Jeweled Detail

DATE

c. 1930s

MEDIUM

Bohemian Crystal

 DIMENSIONS

15.5 cm x 6.5 cm

CREDIT LINE

Eric & Barbara Ottervik Collection, donated October 2018

CURRENT LOCATION

Czech Center Museum 4920 San Jacinto St. Houston, TX 77004
Third Floor North Wall

ACCESSION NUMBER

COtt171

CLASSIFICATION

Crystal

PROVENANCE

The perfume bottle was produced by a Czechoslovakian manufacturer in the 1930s and imported to the US by Irice.