This is the sweetest little Art Deco figural cat perfume bottle.
It dates to the 1920s and it originally contained a little sample Cussons Violette perfume - there original label is still on the base (it is rare to find ones with the old label intact). I love the cat's little yellow coloured eyes.
The bottle is very delicate and beautifully moulded as a tall seated cat with a satinised finish. It certainly has a feel of a Lalique design to it.
It is in lovely condition with no damages. The head forms the stopper and comes out of the bottle easily. The little decorative ribbon that is around the neck of the cat is original to the bottle - and has some fading commensurate with age and use. He is a petit size being only 3 inches in height.
The company had roots tracing back to a Swinton chemist shop in the 180s – but was expanded in 1907 moving to Manchester here they began manufacturing soap, glass bottles and other products. Today, Cussons are best known for the production of Imperial Leather soap
In 1920, Cussons purchased the established luxury London perfumers, Piesse & Lubin - and later absorbed them into their main business based in Manchester.
Given it dates to around the early 1920s - I am assuming that the bottle not only contained a Cussons fragrance - but perhaps they even commissioned the design of the bottle and made it at their glassworks around this time. These little cat bottles do not turn up so often - so it is hard to find much history about them - they might be an earlier Piesse & Lubin novelty bottle filled with Cussons perfume.
It is also of interest that this little cat perfume bottle comes within a little cardboard box with the logo on the top for the Wembley British Empire exhibition of 1924. The exhibition was also less regularly known as the Cussons Empire Exhibition referring to the Cussons concession and kiosks at the show. The cat has been in this box for many years as the original cotton wool padding inside the box fits firmly and snuffly around the cat - suggesting it has been in this box since the early 1920s.
Who would have thought that this little perfume bottle would have such an interesting history. It does remain a rather rare survivor - especially in its original Empire Exhibition retail box. This is reflected in my asking price. It is certainly more of an time for a specialist collector of perfume related items.
UK Postage will be with Royal Mail Special Next Day Delivery Postage - so that it is fully insured in transit to you.