Scent bottle 1745 - 1760

Curator: Let’s take a closer look at this Rococo Scent Bottle, crafted by the Saint James’s Factory between 1745 and 1760. It resides here at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Well, isn't that the most delightfully bizarre thing I've ever seen? It’s like a fever dream made of porcelain—slightly unsettling, yet undeniably charming! Curator: The piece is primarily constructed from ceramic and porcelain, displaying figuration reminiscent of genre paintings. We can see a sculptural element, nodding towards erotic art, albeit subtly. The composition uses this miniature fountain form. Editor: Erotic, you say? Perhaps. Those cherubic figures hoisting the bowl do seem rather…earnest. And that fountainhead face spouting blue water? Hilarious! There is such a juxtaposition between the seriousness of classic sculpture and the utter whimsy of it all. Curator: The swan atop the fountain head also serves to add verticality to the form, accentuating its elegant proportions, and demonstrating the era's obsession with symmetry and balance in art. Editor: Balance, yes, but with a wink! Imagine dabbing a bit of rosewater from this…architectural marvel. It's pure theater, darling! You’d be applying perfume in the spirit of madcap delight, no? I suppose that's the nature of Rococo; taking high art and just letting it have some fun. Curator: Indeed. It exemplifies Rococo’s aesthetic tenets. Each tiny rose garland, the curve of the cherubs' limbs, even the grotesque fountainhead adheres to an established vocabulary. Editor: It feels somehow daring, a world away from the minimalism of today. Imagine possessing something like this—it practically demands attention, a statement piece screaming from across the room "I am frivolous, fabulous, and fragrant!" Curator: The piece provides an invaluable window into the tastes and artistry of its time. Editor: It's mad, it’s joyful. Now I need a porcelain fountain for my perfume!