Chelsea Porcelain Figural Scent Bottle, 18th-century, Circa 1765

A rare Chelsea Porcelain scent bottle, eighteenth century, circa 1765, in the form of a boy, playing a pipe, seated next to a tree stump covered in applied flowers and foliage, with a dog next to him; the concave base is decorated with flowers and leaves in gold, with a collector’s label. With the original gilt metal mounts and, rarely, the original stopper in the form of a flower spray. 7.1 cm (2.8 in) high.

Condition: Very good. Minimal wear. A few tiny losses to petals or leaf ends, and light crazing to the top of the tree trunk, are visible under magnification. The dog’s nose is a little grubby, possibly due to glaze loss or absence. No restoration was found under inspection with ultraviolet light.

References: For an identical example, see G. E. Bryant, The Chelsea Porcelain Toys, p.69 and plate 14, no.2 (see images), The Medici Society, 1925.