The Flacon Vinaigrier Ottoman, created for Guerlain around the 1870s and produced until roughly 1915, is one of the most exceptional and rare perfume presentations of the house. Made by the master glassmaker Pochet et du Courval, the bottle is remarkable for its amphora-like silhouette, recalling ancient vessels once used to store precious oils and elixirs. Its design captures the 19th-century fascination with Orientalist themes, translating them into a luxurious object that blended historical inspiration with the decorative tastes of the Belle Époque.
Standing an impressive 21 cm tall, the flacon features a cylindrical section that expands into a lobed, bulbous belly before tapering into a tall funnel neck. This dramatic profile is further enhanced by the rich surface decoration: hand-painted, polychrome enamel designs in olive green, red, and deep blue, all intricately accented with gilt. The stopper, too, is finely ornamented, continuing the theme of opulence and artisanal detail. Each example was individually enameled by hand, meaning no two bottles were identical, and their elaborate decoration elevated them beyond mere perfume containers into the realm of art glass.
Because of the time and craftsmanship involved, the Vinaigrier Ottoman was offered only by special order, making it an object of privilege and exclusivity even in its own day. Its rarity is compounded by the fragile nature of the painted enamels and the limited numbers produced. Today, surviving examples are considered treasures of Guerlain’s early history—testimonies not only to the artistry of Pochet et du Courval but also to Guerlain’s longstanding commitment to pairing its fragrances with bottles of extraordinary beauty and cultural resonance.
