Scent bottle in the form of a swan 1750 - 1760

This scent bottle in the form of a swan was made by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, sometime between 1744 and 1784. Its primary material, porcelain, speaks volumes about its cultural context. Porcelain production in 18th-century Europe was a high-stakes game, involving a complex alchemy of materials, a closely guarded secret, and immense social prestige. The pure white surface of this swan embodies the aspirations of elite culture, and the red floral details, as well as the gilding, adds to the bottle’s sense of luxury. Consider the human labor involved: from the mining and preparation of the clay, to the skilled hands that molded the swan’s graceful form, to the painters who added the delicate details, and the gold detail. It’s easy to overlook this labour now, but it was central to the porcelain industry. This scent bottle encapsulates the pursuit of beauty, social status, and the complex relationship between art, labor, and consumption.