Scallop-shell-shaped scent bottle

Designed to hold perfume or fragrant salts, scent bottles could decorate a fashionable woman’s dressing table or be carried with her throughout the day. In the early nineteenth century, many people believed strong smells played a role in regulating physical and emotional health, and bottles like this example could be used to combat the odors of a bustling city. This tiny intimate object was created by the Tucker porcelain factory in Philadelphia, one of the earliest manufacturers of porcelain in the United States. One side of this bottle displays a delicate floral spray, while the other side features a pink and gold geometric pattern likely unique among Tucker’s output. The gilding emphasizes the bottle’s status as a small luxury, broadcasting its owner’s wealth and good taste.