CLEOPATRA'S BOUDOIR

Every now and then I see a beautiful box which held perfume from long ago. People collect these boxes for many reasons: the rareness of the perfume name, company, the artistic style of the box, or they have the bottle and need the box to complete the presentation.

Boxes for holding perfume bottles come in various materials from wood, celluloid,leather, shagreen (sharkskin), mirrors, bakelite, lucite, silk, satin, wicker, cardboard/pasteboard and different types of metal.

Companies like Delettrez used fabulous metal presentation cases, made up of white metal which were given a bronze finish. These beautiful boxes were often designed by famous French artists of the time. Dralle oftentimes contained their tiny perfumes in metal cases designed as lighthouses for luxury editions, their most common bottles were wooden and in the stylized shape of a lighthouse.

Mirrors played a role in presentation cases. Both Lucien Lelong and Worth used mirrors on presentations for Mon Image and Je Reviens in the 1930s to convey an Art Deco style that has not been imitated by others.

In the 1950s, Marquay offered a limited edition of their Prince Douka perfume, it was contained inside of a carved mahogany case with a African theme. Roger et Gallet sold their Cigala perfume and soaps in wooden boxes pressed with an Art Nouveau cicada.

Nina Ricci's Fille d've perfume came nestled inside a satin lined wicker basket in 1952.

The manufacturers:

The firm of Joseph Albessard of France was in business during the 1920s manufacturing boxes, graphics and labels for perfume companies. The company employed Front, Wuitz, Paule Richard and Bernard Naudin  (who also worked for Paul Poiret). The company participated in the 1925 Paris Art Deco Exhibition and were bankrupt by 1932.

Rene Bergeron was a manufacturer of superior quality perfume boxes, starting in 1890.

Berlan, Lederlin et Cie were manufacturers of metal accessories including those made in metal anglaise (a term for aluminum) with antique silver patina, and a variety of brass covers for perfume bottles. The company was established in 1867 and mainly produced powder and soap boxes in an artistic style. The company also produced jetons, metal money stamps for use in France during the 1920s.

Another firm, Albert Pierre, manufactured metalware, and mostly aluminum perfume boxes, and brass stopper covers for clients such as Rigaud and Roger et Gallet.

The manufacturer F. Bouvet et F. Gaud made luxury perfume boxes, most notable client was Bourjois. They were established in 1893 as Maison A. Coste et Cie. The company was succeeded by Felix Grasset around 1921, the company manufactured plastics including Bakelite for usage in combs, jewelery and Bakelite perfume boxes for Bourjois.

The company BTCIC, also known as BETCIC, a glassworks in France who was active after WWI, who made bottles, labels and total presentations for companies such as Caray, Parfums Paul, Eroy and others. 

Honore Rey, manufactured specialty boxes, leather covered perfume boxes that resembled jeweler's cases. Their most notable client was DuBarry.

The company of Saillard made paper boxes and labels for luxury productions, including the Lucien Gaillard presentations for Veolay/Violet. 

G. Cassard  manufactured boxes and papers for perfume companies, established in 1893, the company specialized in cylindrical boxes, probably for Isabey and Godet.

Maison Cotigny  made luxury presentation boxes using many intricate models. This company also participated in the 1925 Art Deco Exhibition in Paris along with another box manufacturer Flament & Devallon who made many complex geometric models.

The firm of Gaston Jeanbin of 38, rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, were printers and publishers, who also made boxes and labels for perfume companies for their luxury productions and participated in the Art Deco Exhibition in 1925 along with Laurent, Bona,  Bicart, Sardou et Chatelan, 27 avenue de la Grande-Armée, who also made luxury boxes and won a Grand Prize at the Parisian Exhibition.

Also present at the Exhibition was Marboeuf & Cie, a deluxe box, label and paper manufacturer with notable clients such as Cadolle, Chanel, Gabilla, Vivaudou, Rigaud and Roger et Gallet.

Chanel also used the luxury presentation boxes of Jean Martin, who also supplied Bourjois.

Caron's presentation boxes came from important manufacturer Marius Milou & Cie, who also  produced leather, paper and textile boxes for other perfume companies.

Veuve H. Seguin et Aubert manufactured luxury production boxes  and was present at the 1925 Exhibition.

One of the most important producers of boxes and labels was the printing firm of Sennet et Cie. Their most notable clients were Erizma, Gilot, Isabey, Lengyel, Sauze Freres and Vibert Freres. The company was established in 1853 as H. Deschamps.