Lalique Perfume Bottles

René Lalique art glass is some of the most coveted among early 20th- century producers. It is his perfume bottle designs, however, that prove consistently captivating, as it was a commission for such bottle designs that helped catapult Lalique into the pantheon of glassmaking greats.

In the early years of the 1900s, just as Lalique was launching his art glass line, he was approached by perfume maker to create multiple perfume bottles. Lalique's designs for Coty proved so successful that demand skyrocketed, and Lalique was forced to expand operations into a larger factory.

As the decades progressed, Lalique continued creating designs for Coty while also expanding his clientele to include other companies, such as d'Orsay. At the same time he made custom designs for specific makers, he also made his own perfume bottles, which were equally celebrated. Among these designs, his Tantot and Amphitritie vessels were some of his most acclaimed not only among his contemporary consumers, but also by collectors today.

Quick Facts

• Along with his perfume bottle designs, Lalique created several art glass pieces to decorate the windows of the Coty Building in New York City. Many of these original decorative pieces are still on view today
• A Lalique-designed tester set of Coty fragrances created between 1907 and 1910 achieved a record price at a Christie's London auction in 2000. Featuring 12 miniature bottles slightly more than 2 inches in height and all enclosed in a custom box, the set sold for $7,097
• One of Lalique's most novel contributions to perfume bottle designs was the tiara stopper, which was a stopper that featured a design that fanned out to encircle the neck of the perfume bottle, similar to the way in which a tiara sits on one's head