Collecting and Buying Perfume Bottles
Perfume and cologne are typically something that most people have in their homes, yet not many people save the bottles. This is because most modern bottles are mass produced and are not worth collecting. There are some perfume bottles, however, that are worth quite a substantial amount of money. These works of art are pieces of history passed down through time. They were hand crafted and are worth more than just money to the collector. They are truly works of art.
The earliest perfume bottles can be traced back to the Egyptians and Mesopotamians. These early civilizations used clay to make vessels to hold their cosmetics, essential oils and the perfume with which they anointed their bodies. Excavators have uncovered the remains of these bottles in tombs and pyramids of the pharaohs showing their importance in the day to day lives of these exalted leaders. Obviously smelling good was of great importance. As far as monetary value goes, these bottles would be considered priceless.
The glass and ceramic eau de parfum bottles came to us from the Greeks and Romans during their reign. But the real collectible beauties came about in the 16th and 17th century, courtesy of the Venetians and their colorful glass. These pretty baubles are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you are lucky enough to see and touch one in person, then you have definitely hit a milestone in collecting. A damaged or cracked bottle may sell for over five hundred thousand dollars and a mint condition bottle could easily double that if it is signed by the maker and is rare.
Perfumes and colognes are all around us. We see them each day in department stores and retail stores. If you admire perfume bottles of new designs then by all means collect them. They do not have to be worth any money in order for you to enjoy the hobby. The greatest joy in collecting something comes from the love of the hunt and the satisfaction of finding a great deal on a new item.
January 30, 2009 - 9:56 PM Comments: Closed






























































