Introduction
The following article published in “Glass Cuts” a Stourbridge Glass Museum circular was written by a museum volunteer, Eileen Sanders. This evocative point of view inspired further research into the subject of bird, fish and animal smelling bottles produced by the Stourbridge glass factories of Thomas Webb & Sons and Stevens & Williams.
MY FAVOURITE THING AT STOURBRIDGE GLASS MUSEUM
SWAN’S HEAD SCENT BOTTLE.
Imagine, if you will, a Victorian lady, sitting at her dressing table, about to complete her preparations for an evening at the ball. Preparations almost over, she completes her toilet, reaching for her scent bottle, a beautiful work of cameo art in the sensuous shape of a swan’s head, its contents, probably lavender water, or rose and jasmine.
Why a swan’s head? Why not a round or torpedo shaped bottle, much easier to make. The swan’s head bottle is the epitome of the cameo glassmaker’s art. Difficult to make, first a gather of coloured glass, then a layer of flint and white opal added, finally blown into a mould. The temperature coefficient has to be correct or the layers will shear away from each other or crack during cooling. Once cold the engraver’s art and skill comes to the fore; the beak carefully delineated, the all-seeing eye opened and each feather intricately carved, bringing life to this avian masterpiece.
They are known to be made in 3 colours, white over ruby, turquoise or citron together with a clear glass model. There are two sizes, approx 7 or 9 inches long. The cap, silver or silver gilt, plain or delicately embossed, either screw or flip top. Made by Thomas Webb & Sons, between 1884/1890, registered design 11109.
For me, this bottle is the essence both of femininity, and the glassmaker’s ingenuity. Who was it that first thought to make a perfume bottle in this shape? We shall probably never know, but how I admire its beauty and workmanship.
So ladies, imagine if you will, preparing yourself for an evening out, you reach for your scent bottle, then slowly, let your imagination soar!
Eileen Sanders.