Opening of a new temporary exhibition: The ark of perfumes.
More than simple containers, the flacons have become miniature objects of art whose shape evokes the magic of perfumes that hide, manifesting their consummated sense by the figure, their taste by the delicate colours and a rich artistic culture.
In Ancient Egypt, ointments were stored in vases, the majority of which were made from alabaster, while others were made of china or ceramic. These vases were generally shaped like animals.
One of the greatest innovations took place in Syria in the 1st century BC – blowing glass – which led to using containers made of blown glass. For the Greeks, the bottles took the shapes of bunches of grapes, animals, fruit, and more.
In the 12th century, porcelain containers appeared. In Europe, the materials used were glass, gold, silver, porcelain, semi-precious stones and shells. Glass was still only for the privileged, with the contents and the container being sold separately.
After the industrial Revolution, around 1850, the bottles had to be beautiful and attractive to seduce the consumer, for which the perfumers turned to real artists to make their flacons and sold the perfume already inside the bottle.
With the 20th century and Art Nouveau, the goal of perfumery was to enhance the beauty of the bottle. This style found its inspiration in the observation and sublimation of nature, represented by the animal kingdom.