Perfume Bottles

Coronet Flacons:

The Coronet Flacons (Crown Bottles), designed by Norina Matchabelli and were inspired by the letterhead on the Prince's paper which featured the Matchabelli crown. The Matchabelli crown bottles were launched when Prince Matchabelli first started the perfume company in 1926. The shape was copied from the crown that appeared on his family coat-of-arms.

These were first formally introduced in 1928 and initially, they were hand made by Grigol Kobakhidze, or “George Coby,"  (John A. Koby?) another Georgian emigrant who found success in the glass industry. The crown shape bottle design was filed for a patent in 1927 by Georges Matchabelli and received a patent in 1928. Bottle production was only half automated, with all gilded accents painted by hand.

Unfortunately, George Coby went out of business in 1931 due to financial failure stemming from the Great Depression. This caused Matchabelli to fill the void with imported glass bottles from France. The clear glass crowns with the 22kt gold enamel trim were manufactured by the French company Cristal Romesnil, These will be marked with "Prince Matchabelli Bottle Made in France" on the base. Though I am unsure if they made both the subsequent opaque glass and the frosted glass bottles. The frosted glass bottles can be found molded with "Made in France" or etched with "Germany" on their bases or sides.

Starting in 1930, the crown bottles were produced of colored opaque glass in red, green, blue, black and white, unfortunately these are unmarked as to manufacturer so we do not know for sure who made them. At that time one of the best known French manufacturers of opaque colored glass perfume bottles was Cristalleries de Nancy. 

Some of the opaque colored glass crowns are marked Germany on the base, but I am unsure of who the maker was. These bottles are molded "Matchabelli" in the glass and acid marked "Germany" on the base.

I believe that production of the opaque colored glass bottles must have stopped before the second World War, when the importation of the bottles as well as the perfumes themselves were cut off to the United States and abroad.

The Matchabelli company needed to bridge the gap and find substitutions for the French and German bottles that they no longer could import. This in turn led to Matchabelli who looked to home for American suppliers for their perfume bottles. This resulted in lovely frosted glass bottles, clear glass bottles, clear glass bottles with 22kt gold enamel trim and clear glass bottles with colored enameling to simulate the opaque colored glass bottles. I first found reference to the use of the colored enamel and gold bottles in a 1934 newspaper ad. The Matchabelli firm must have been satisfied with the results as they continued to use these well after the war ended.

The high expense of importation of the opaque colored glass bottles themselves may have also figured into them being discontinued in favor of the cheaper, domestic made models of clear glass covered with enameling. Or perhaps the glasshouses were no longer making the bottles or closed (like Cristalleries de Nancy in 1934), or the glasshouses were damaged during the war. There are many possibilities.

The American bottles were more cost effective to produce, and were manufactured of clear glass enhanced with fired on enameled colors. These were made by Swindell, Bros., Inc., of Baltimore, Maryland. The metal closures used on these bottles were manufactured by Chase Brass and Copper Co., Inc., of New York. These American made bottles are simply marked with "Prince Matchabelli" on the base of the bottle. I believe that Swindell also made the frosted glass bottles, though I have no concrete evidence.

If your gold foil label is imprinted "IMPORTED FROM FRANCE", you may be inclined to think that it infers that it was made in France, however, only the fragrance itself was actually compounded in France, then shipped to the Matchabelli factory in the USA where American made bottles were filled, packaged and distributed. 

Some enameled glass bottles will be marked with "Prince Matchabelli Bottle Made in France" on the base, these might have been post-war made bottles as I found many for the Wind Song perfume which was introduced in 1953, or older stock still being used up.

Bottles with glass stoppers come in various sizes:

• 2 oz bottle stands 3 1/8" tall
• 1 oz bottle stands 2.5" tall.
• 1/2 oz bottle stands 2.25" tall.
• 1/4 oz bottle stands 1.75" tall

If your label does not have a zip code listed after New York, this indicates that your bottle is a pre-1963 production as zip codes were used starting in 1963.

Miniature bottles in one dram and two dram size crowns (the 2 dram crown was called the "Bibelot size") were offered in 1934 to help make perfumes more affordable to women during the Great Depression. These tiny bottles were also just the right size for carrying in the handbag. The fragrances available in these early dram bottles were: Ave Maria, Princess Marie, Princess Norina, Duchess of York, Queen of Georgia, Queen of the Nile, Grace Moore, Gardenia, Empress of India. Stradivari was added in 1943.

These little cuties were also presented in the whimsical Easter egg and Snowball perfume presentations brought out for the holidays.

Frosted Crowns:

The first time I see the frosted glass bottles mentioned in an advertisement is in a 1933 newspaper. I imagine they may have been manufactured before 1933. Some frosted glass bottles were imported from Germany, and are found molded or etched with "Germany" on their bases or sides. The German bottles surely were no longer exported from the country due to the Second World War.

Several of the frosted crown bottles are found marked with "Made in France" on their bases, perhaps these were made by Romesnil.  

Other bottles are unfortunately unmarked as to maker, so we do not know for sure who made them, these bottles are simply marked with "Prince Matchabelli" on the base of the bottle. Since they are lacking country of origin on the base, I believe that some were domestically made by Swindell in America during the war to fill the lack of imported German and French bottles.

There are four sizes:

• 0.25 oz =1.75" tall 
• 0.50 oz = 2.25" tall
• 1 oz = 2.5" tall  
• 2 oz = 3.75" tall

The frosted crown bottles were used for most of the Matchabelli perfumes: Jungle Flower, Empress of India, Royal Gardenia, Easter Lily, Infanta, Georgian Carnation, Stradivari, Duchess of York, Ave Maria, Katherine the Great, Princess Norina, Queen of Georgia, Damas, Grace Moore, Princess Marie

Printer's Ink, 1944:

"The price of Stradivari in a frosted crown bottle is $1.50 to $2 less than in a gilded crown bottle."

Bottle Colors:

You can use this handy guide to see approximately when your bottle was produced. The color coding of the bottles initially (the names in quotes were those used by the company):

• Queen of Georgia in red/gilded or frosted (1928)

• Princess Norina in red/gilded, clear/gilded (1928)

• Ave Maria in black/gilded, periwinkle blue/gilded,  clear/gilded, or frosted (1928)

• Duchess of York in a periwinkle blue/gilded, pinkish red/gilded, red/gilded, clear/gilded, or frosted (1934)

• Katherine the Great in white/gilded, frosted, clear/gilded (1935)

• Beloved in "aqua" blue/gilded, periwinkle blue/gilded, willow green/gilded (1940)

• Crown Jewel in clear/gilded (1946)

• Wind Song in "willow green"/gilded, clear/gilded, white/gilded (1953)

• Added Attraction in red/gilded (1956)

• Stradivari in clear/gilded or frosted  (1953)

• Jungle Flower in clear/gilded, clear (not frosted) or frosted

• Georgian Carnation in frosted, clear/gilded  (1934)

• Princess Marie in frosted, clear/gilded

• Damas in clear (no frosting)

• Golden Autumn in clear/gilded

• Prophecy in clear/gilded, white/gilded

• Empress of India in clear/gilded

• Russian Easter Lily in clear/gilded

• Princess of Wales in frosted

The crown shaped bottles often changed color schemes and you may find an Ave Maria in a different color bottle, etc. The crown bottles are highly collectible and some of them warrant higher prices, which is the case with the older perfume bottles with the opaque colored glass and glass cruciform stoppers..

Dating your bottles: The older Matchabelli crown shaped bottles are all glass, including the cross shaped stopper. These seem to command better prices than their plastic counterparts.

The tallest crown bottles stand 6 1/4" tall and the smallest measure just 1 5/6" tall.

The 1950s-1960s mini versions omit the cross and have a simple brass or plastic screw cap, these bottles measure 1 5/8" tall and 1 1/4" tall.

Large Crowns:

The large crown bottles holding sachet and cologne parfumee were manufactured by Swindell, and the metal caps were made by Chase Brass and Copper Co. (for the four ounce bottles) and by Brass Goods Manufacturing Co (for the smaller bottles). 

The bottles can be found in clear glass, cobalt blue glass, amber glass and clear glass with an iridized surface finish similar to carnival glass shades of marigold and amethyst.

These were two different shapes, one looks like a very large crown shape with it's usual beading down the center, while the other is a more simplified crown shape without the beading in the center. These were both available in the one ounce size as well as the "magnum" bottle of four ounces. The larger sized bottle's metal caps have the Prince Matchabelli name engraved along the sides in cursive script.

Metal Crowns:

Solid brass crowns exist and are called "Crownettes", these small bottles have either ball shaped screw caps or the cruciform stoppers (rare). Some were meant to be suspended from necklaces and were sold with neck chains, others were made as solid perfume compacts and are hinged.

Sceptre Flacons:

Sceptre Bottles, first introduced in 1936 to hold cologne, talcum powder, bath oils, and liquid foundation makeup, were manufactured by Swindell, Bros., Inc., Baltimore, Md.  They were originally made with cruciform stoppers, but later they were topped with screw caps instead.

The mini sceptre bottles hold 1/8 oz of both cologne, after bath cologne and cologne parfumee - these bottles stand 2 1/2" tall x 1" diameter. These have either metal or plastic screw caps. Some labels are on the side of the bottle, others are on the base.

Cologne Flacons:

Sparkling Burgundy Bubble Bath was housed in the elegantly designed "Cologne Carols" bottles, which perfectly captured the spirit of luxury and festivity associated with Prince Matchabelli. 

These flat, disk-shaped flacons were a visual delight, adorned with stars that seemed to dance across the surface, invoking a sense of wonder and celebration. At the center of each bottle, the iconic Matchabelli crown was prominently displayed within a wreath, symbolizing the brand's heritage and regal elegance. The frosted glass stopper, shaped like the distinctive cross from Matchabelli's crown and scepter bottles, added a final touch of refinement, making the bottle itself a work of art.

These "Cologne Carols" bottles were not exclusive to Sparkling Burgundy Bubble Bath; they also served as containers for a range of other popular fragrances by Prince Matchabelli, such as the Potpourri, Summer Shower, Christmas Rose, and Gypsy Patteran colognes. Each of these fragrances carried its own unique charm, but all shared the common thread of being housed in these beautifully crafted bottles. Manufactured by Swindell Bros., Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, the bottles were a testament to the quality and craftsmanship that defined the brand. The collaboration with Swindell Bros. ensured that each flacon was not only visually stunning but also of the highest quality, designed to preserve the fragrances within while enhancing their appeal on the vanity.

The design of the "Cologne Carols" bottles was both functional and symbolic, reflecting the luxurious nature of the products they contained. The star-studded flacons and the regal crown motif spoke to the celebratory and festive nature of the fragrances, while the flat, disk shape made them a distinctive and memorable part of any collection. These bottles, with their timeless elegance and attention to detail, became iconic in their own right, treasured by collectors and perfume enthusiasts alike. They embodied the essence of Prince Matchabelli—where every detail, from the scent to the packaging, was carefully crafted to evoke a sense of luxury, tradition, and beauty.

The four ounce frosted glass bottle debuted in 1948, and was manufactured by Swindell Brothers, with Kimble glass stoppers, and held Summer Frost cologne (a minty-lemony lime green cologne).

Metal closures used on these bottles were manufactured by Brass Goods Manufacturing Co. Deep River, Conn.

Three Little Bottles:

A trio of identical, but utilitarian looking flasks with brass caps and label on the side. This set was housed in a single box and the bottles stood lined up next to each other like sentries. I have only seen these bottles in old newspaper ads, so they must be very rare to find.

c1932 ad

Pyramid Bottle:

Pyramid flacons are extremely rare. The first date I saw these used was 1929. Made up of triangle of amber glass with a rectangular base, the amber ground glass stopper forms the peak of a pyramid. The front of the bottle is molded with the Matchabelli family crest. The base is acid stamped "Made in France" and "Prince Matchabelli". The bottle stands 3.5" tall. I am unsure of what company produced the bottles.

The bottle holds 1/2 oz of parfum in the following scents: Gardenia, Ave Maria, Empress of India, Jasmin, Princess Marie, Honeysuckle, Carnation, Lily of the Valley, Mimosa, Muguet, and Lilac.

Prices were $5.00 per 1/2 ounce. The bottles were being reduced to half prices in 1932 and by 1935 were being phased out completely.

Cylindrical Bottle:

This unusual crystal bottle features fluted sides and a matching ground glass stopper. The bottle holds 1.5 oz of parfum. In this case, it held Royal Gardenia or Honeysuckle in 1936.

Tall Square Bottle:

This bottle held a mysterious line of perfumes known as "Rhapsody", each was numbered from 1 to 5.

Purse Bottles:

Small cylindrical glass purse vials used for the "Spring Garden" (1952) corsage presentation were made by the Richford Corp., closures by Chase Brass and Copper.

Another purse bottle was housed inside of a black case trimmed with genuine mink fur. It held the perfumes: Wind Song, Added Attraction, Stradivari, Beloved, and Crown Jewel.

Damas Bottle:

This beautiful clear crystal flacon with the sloping shoulders was created to hold 1.5 oz of perfume. It features a ground glass stopper molded with the Matchabelli "M and crown" logo. The glass bottle stands 3.5" tall by 3" long. The box measures The box stands 4" tall by 4" long, and is marked "Made in France". I believe this bottle debuted in the early 1930s.

It was also used for Ave Maria.

Atomizers:

In 1930, Francois Nazare-Aga invented a new type of perfume atomizer for Prince Matchabelli called the AROMIZER. This atomizer contained inert gas which would help prevent the perfume from evaporating or turning bad by being exposed to oxygen. The invention was granted a patent in 1932, serial number US1875821 A.

Life, 1933:

"Loyal Scent Squirts TWO princes, Georges Matchabelli and Francois Nazare-Aga, put their royal heads together over the newest and most original perfume atomizer ever presented. It squirts perfume in a 3-speed mist, heavy, medium and thin, operating on precisely the same principle as a Sparklet bottle. Into this new Matchabelli atomizer, which .. Few perfume atomizers perform satisfactorily, as the alcohol in the perfume soon corrodes the metal pipe through which the scent is siphoned to the surface. But Matchabelli's Atomizer runs no such risks. Just as long as the Sparklet plug remains charged, perfume comes sizzling out in misty showers.

Francois Nazare, incidentally worked as the general manager for Guerlain, Inc from 1929 until 1932, when he accepted the position of general manager of Dorothy Gray, New York, toilet preparations. He was well known to the toilet goods trade having been connected with Guerlain, Dorothy Gray, and Lucien Lelong. In 1938, he was appointed sales manager for Parfums Schiaparelli, Inc.  In 1941, Francois Nazare, while still in charge of the East coast territory for Parfums Schiaparelli, Inc., left for military duty in France. 

Packaging:

Paper boxes, cartons, packaging was made by both Warner Bros. Co. of Bridgeport, Conn, and Shoup-Owens Corp. of Hoboken, NJ.

The Plexiglas or Lucite acrylic containers/cases were manufactured by Industrial Conversions, Inc.