Miniatures and where to find them

This is the second part of our survey on perfume-miniature collections. This time, you'll learn how to find hidden treasures and get great tips on how to become a true collector.
By Delphine Desveaux . 06/22/01

Collectors must watch for the right time if they want to expand their collections: miniatures are often produced for special occasions, such as product launches (L'Eau de Cartier, currently), fragrance anniversaries or the marketing of a boxed set of a brand's perfume. Escada, for example, is now selling a transparent boxed set of samples, each bottle set in specially matched packaging. Christmas and Mother's Day are two other prime times for scrounging around in flea markets.

Finding miniatures

Miniature Exchange sites exist on the Internet, for instance Jean-Michel Courset's www.miniperfume.com. You can also go round flea markets and antique stores, trade with collectors or buy at auctions. Specific miniature auctions don't exist (yet), but they are usually listed in the first part of bottle auctions, or sometimes even at auctions dedicated to glassware. At Christie's you will find them only at small auctions held at South Kensington in the Art Deco department.

An annual international convention is held in the United States. This year, it will take place in Santa Clara, and next year in Dallas.
"Professional collectors stamped their business cards with their favorite bottles to express their favorite period. As with any specialized milieu, that of perfume bottles and miniatures has its secrets and codes. ENjoy discovering them!

Some reading

Get some practice by reading specialized publications such as Christie Mayer Lefkowith's "Masterpieces of the Perfume Industry". The book will tell you for instance that a Guerlain bottle bearing the 15, rue de la Paix address is much older and rarer than the same product stamped with the Champs-Elysées location.
This expert in vintage bottles and miniatures enjoyed a great success at her auction, which was held in Geneva in October of last year, and she is now organizing another one scheduled for 2002 with a preview exhibition in Paris. Madame de Robien is also organizing another auction of the exceptional collection of a bottle connoisseur, scheduled for the end of November 2001 at the Hôtel Drouot.

A bit of history

The trend of sample collections was launched in the early 20th century by illustrious perfumers such as Guerlain, Bourjois, Corday, Colgate, Roget-Gallet, Pivert and Coty. The idea was to promote new products by attracting customers with sample tubes or small original bottles, and matching souvenirs, such as bookmarks or other illustrated cards.