Large Bottle With Ludions, France, Circa 1930

Numerous ludions float in a large, stoppered bottle of water. These are small figures or instruments in spun glass of various colors, attached to a bubble of transparent blown glass, floating on the surface of the water.The bottle, which closely resembles a pharmaceutical bottle, is probably not original, but it is old.

The real Notre-Dame de Liesse ludions came in sealed ampoules or bottles and mainly depicted the tools of Christ’s Passion, the Virgin Mary, angels and the dove of the Holy Spirit. Here, the subjects are much more varied and non-religious.
This type of bottle was originally made in the 18th century by craftsmen in the village of Liesse Notre-Dame, where a very important pilgrimage took place.