Perfume bottle 1550 - 1599

This perfume bottle was made by Paul Preuning, a German potter, sometime in the mid-16th century. It's constructed primarily from earthenware, then glazed and mounted with gilded metal. The bright colors and raised decoration show that this isn’t just any old vessel. It was slip-cast into a mold, allowing for the mass production of the basic form, but then extensively worked by hand. The fruit and figures are all applied, and then painted with vivid enamels, fixed in a high-temperature kiln. The resulting texture is busy and inviting. The choice of materials and techniques speaks to a transitional moment. Preuning was working at a time when craft practices were still central to production, but new forms of manufacturing were emerging. This bottle is a testament to the enduring appeal of skilled handwork, even as the world was changing around it. By appreciating how it was made, we get a richer sense of its value.