talk: THURSDAY MARCH 2nd, 2017 – 6.30 p.m. – Length: 1 ½ hrs
by Sophie Motsch
In the 18th century, perfume, sold in large glass bottles, was then decanted at home into little flasks resembling genuine jewels. Made with a variety of materials, their designs were extraordinarily fanciful. Discover the history of these magnificent little objects, the factories that made them and their socio-cultural uses.
Sophie Motsch is Assistant Curator at the 17th-18th century department of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. After taking part in numerous works on 18th-century lifestyle, from porcelain to furniture and buttons, she undertook the task of compiling a comprehensive annotated catalog of a perfume collection dating from the 18th century.