Scent bottle and stopper 1675 - 1699

Editor: Here we have a French scent bottle and stopper from the late 17th century, crafted by Bernard Perrot from glass. It's certainly… unusual! All those eyes surrounding what appears to be clasped hands are a bit unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed. The glass itself, let's note its almost uncanny translucence, rendered possible by Perrot's advanced *flameworking*. Consider the overall design. How does the almost baroque profusion of ornamentation interact with the smoothness of the glass figure that tops the bottle? Editor: Well, there’s a distinct contrast. The face at the top seems serene, even delicate, while the ornamentation with the eyes creates a feeling of overwhelming observation. Does the arrangement affect the meaning of the symbol in the centre? Curator: Precisely. The hands – perhaps indicating trust, faith or fraternity – are overwhelmed by the observing eyes. Does this not alter how you might conventionally interpret that symbol? What semiotic readings are available to us through its structure, would you say? Editor: I guess that I read more vigilance than union, maybe a cautious agreement. It really highlights the fragility of trust when faced with scrutiny. Curator: Yes, and further contemplation reveals a possible thesis: are such beautiful, highly crafted yet profoundly disturbing decorative items merely *memento mori* writ small? Editor: It’s amazing how looking closely at the form and materials can shift my entire understanding. Thanks for showing me this perspective. Curator: My pleasure. By carefully evaluating this object's various formal relationships, you develop sensitivity towards meaning, which deepens our experience of it, and invites speculation as to its purpose, of course.