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"Flacon aux Abeilles" Vintage Guerlain Paris - Pochet du Courval - ca. 1940-1950
€195Bid from €150
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A piece of French haute perfumery history in excellent condition
The original "Flacon aux Abeilles" by Guerlain Paris dates back to 1853, a gift from the brand's founder to the Spanish aristocrat Eugénie de Montijo on the occasion of her marriage to Napoleon III. It contained his Eau de Cologne Impériale, specially composed in his honor, and was decorated with 69 embossed bees as a nod to the Bonaparte symbol and the 69 departments into which the French Empire was then divided.
ESTIMATED DATING: 1940s-1950s
The bottle you see has unique, distinctive details that allow it to be dated to those decades and attributed to one of the first post-war runs, when Guerlain reopened its boutiques after the material shortages following World War II. Specifically:
1. HERMETIC FIT WITHOUT A PLASTIC RING
The frosted glass stopper, with its hermetic fit achieved through direct contact with the glass, does not have or require a plastic ring, unlike later editions.
The marks or irregularities visible inside the neck are original and result from the artisanal molding and grinding process of the time. These hand-applied marks ensure a precise and perfect seal for the stopper. Purely internal, they are imperceptible to the touch, maintaining a smooth and glossy exterior and a smooth and matte interior.
2. MOLD CUTTING OR SEAMS
This bottle features three vertical seams (two flanking the smooth label area and another directly behind it) corresponding to a three-piece, articulated mold, a complex pressing technique used in the 1940s and 50s.
Later, bottles began to be demolded in two halves and therefore have two seams or cutting marks.
3. BASE MARKING
The curved typography on the base, with the words GUERLAIN at the top in a curve and PARIS at the bottom in a curve (instead of two lines in the center). Virtually imperceptible in the photograph, slight marks or smooth wrinkles, known as cold mold cooling marks, can be seen on the base. These microtextures, typical of handcrafted production, are created when molten glass touches the metal base while it is not excessively hot.
4. BEE WINGS
The bees with drooping or folded wings on this bottle correspond to the pattern of molds used during that period. Later, the molds were redesigned with bees with fanned-out wings.
USES: Its attributes and fascinating history, combined with its visual presence, make it highly valued today as a collector's item or interior decoration, whether used alone, as a designer vase for a single flower, or as a luxurious detail in the bathroom (see interior photo).
OTHER DETAILS:
- Translucent pressed glass (or verre pressé) manufactured by the master glassmakers of Pochet Du Courval using a mixed industrial and artisanal manufacturing technique. Molten glass is poured into a metal mold and, while still hot, pressed against the mold walls, achieving a uniform wall thickness and a relief of millimeter detail (such as the 69 bees on the body or the tiles/scales on the dome).
- 69 Imperial bees in relief arranged on the cylindrical body.
- The scalloped pattern The "tuiles" (tile-like tiles) of the vaulted top are inspired by the semi-spherical dome of the column in the Place Vendôme in Paris.
-Plain front panel where the label was originally placed.
-First family owner.
CONDITION:
-Excellent - flawless, with completely clean and sparkling glass.
-The stopper has a small nick or surface chip at the base, typically caused by inserting or removing it abruptly. It is not a serious break or crack and does not compromise the structure, aesthetics, use, or watertightness of the piece.
OTHER:
- Other items shown in the photo are not included; they are for context or style inspiration (example of luxury bathroom decor with a gold shelf).
- Approximate dimensions: 20 cm high with the stopper and 8 cm in base diameter.
- Fast and well-protected shipping, using a standard-sized box to ensure adequate perimeter protection.
- Note: An identical piece from the same period (post-war/1950s) is valued at between €250 and €420 in international design, antique, and high-end decor galleries.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsTransparentMaterialGlassNumber of items1First ownerYesHeight20 cmWidth8 cmDepth8 cmSigns of usageChipped
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About this seller
Private sellerBARCELONA, SpainOn Whoppah since June 2026 • 0 sales