Back in the early 1980's, before Gary and I were married, I had a boyfriend who was a wholesale antique dealer. Several times a year he would go to Europe on buying trips. He'd bring furniture back to the United States and supply retail antique dealers with items for their stores. Before he left on one of his trips he said he'd be gone for quite a while, but promised he'd bring me some French perfume.
At the time my favorite perfume was Oscar, by Oscar de la Renta but I could only afford to wear the cologne. So I was really looking forward to receiving my gift of French perfume. After what seemed like a terribly long time, he came back to the United States and arrived at my home. We chatted for a while and then he handed me a wrapped gift in a box. The box was quite heavy and I thought it must be a large bottle of French perfume in a beautiful bottle.
I opened the wrapping paper and inside was a white box with the name Lalique printed on the front. Inside was another velvet coated box. In my naivete, I knew nothing about Lalique Art Glass, so the name didn't mean anything to me. I opened the velvet box and saw a small frosted glass powder jar with a molded nude female figure floating on the cover. I think I recall saying something about the gift not being perfume.
It was many years later I learned about Rene Lalique and by then the original box was long gone. There have only been a few times I wish I could change a small bit of the past and this is one of those times. As I reflect back I see I must have meant much more than a bottle of perfume to my boyfriend. I wish I could go back and say thank you for the wonderful Lalique powder jar, instead of my boyfriend seeing the disappointment, which I must have shown that day. This powder jar is a piece of modern Lalique art glass, but it's a treasure just the same, Lalique, the perfume lingers.
Perhaps you just did thank him. Lets hope so.
ReplyDeletebeautiful both the glass and the story of youth.
ReplyDeleteHi Patti, thanks, I am sure I thanked him back then, but my disappointment must have shown - I've always had a hard time hiding my true feelings. Perhaps he will see this post - wouldn't that be something - and Rodney Black too. Ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks, yes youth, if we knew then what we knew now.
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ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful powder jar!
I like this lovely story too.
I once saw a large collection of
Rene Lalique's powder jars at the Lalique museum. Each piece was very pretty and elegant just like yours! I think every woman has some memory about the perfume she wore when she was young, and so do I. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Sapphire, a trip to the Lalique museum must have been something. Thanks, I still have Oscar cologne I wear occasionally. Apparently the essential oils of the perfumes mix with our own body oil and since each person is different, one perfume may have a pleasant scent on one person, but not on another. People always remarked Oscar was my scent so I always wear it. It's very light and not over powering.
ReplyDeleteLove the jar, for a momnet I thought YOU made it! Looks like something you could have done!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, thanks, what a compliment. I doubt if I could achieve that see through glass effect even if I tried with ceramics and the design, well it might take me lifetime. Ha. Great inspiration though.
ReplyDeleteHi LInda. I was researching some stuff about Rene Lalique in connection with an article, and came upon your blog!. A touching post about your experience, and of course, it's the reason I found you. I wanted to commend to you the site I work for, RLalique.com, as basically the place on the web for enthusiasts, collectors, or just about anyone interested in Rene Lalique or his works ..... his R Lalique as it is commonly called. I don't want to waste a bunch of time reciting what you'll find there, but it's an amazing amount of info, including an extensive biography that has it's own touching recitals, and links to videos, period magazine articles etc. Anyway, you will find it a great reference. And lest anyone forget, before he was the greatest glassmaker of the 20th century, Lalique was equally famous for an earlier career in the 19th century, as the man whom Emile Galle (no slouch of a glassmaker himself) called, " The Inventor of Modern Jewelry!". Jewelry where the value was in the art and not the stones. There is some of his jewelry coming up for auction at Christies in NY in a week or two...... estimates for pieces up to around $500,000! Incredible stuff. Many of the designs in his jewelry are found in his glass. And one more thing while I'm rambling.. he wasn't just a jewelry or glass artist. He created many of the techniques in glassmaking to mass produce glass and make it affordable where almost anyone could obtain the new, usable, decorative glass. He changed careers as the industrial revolution changed the lives of lots of people, and brought art glass into their homes. Great guy. Anyway, if I get it to work, here is a link to the Rene Lalique Bio on the website, and if you need any info on Rene Lalique or whatever, feel free to contact me anytime. And again, nice blog post. All the best, Greg
ReplyDeleteHi Greg, thanks and so nice to meet you here. I really appreciate all the information you have provided. What a wonderful job you have working with art every day. Amazing prices at Christie's. I read that R Lalique had developed a process in glass to make it more affordable for the general public. It's important to remember history and those who have contributed so much to art. Thanks again.
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