"Shocking" glass perfume bottle

Designer

Schiaparelli, Elsa

Date

• 1950-1959

Summary

• "Shocking" by the Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The glass bottle in the shape of a tailorʼs dummy is reminiscent of the surrealistic movement she embraced. The bottle has the dressmakerʼs measuring tape across the front and a bouquet of red, blue, green, yellow and white small glass flowers along the top with a frosted stopper and glass dauber. The label on the bottom of the box reads, "Shocking De Schiaparelli, No. 19841 T.S.S.A. Perfumes Schiaparelli, Paris - Francia, Representantes Exclusivos Products Franceses Atlantida, S.A. No. 77 - Mexico, D.F." Stamped on the bottom is, "Box Made in France." "Shocking," Schiaparelli's first and most famous fragrance, was introduced in 1936. The bottle is 2 3/4" in height from the top of stopper to the bottom of the bottle. It belonged to Vivette Ravel Rifkin, mother of the collector, and was a gift from her sister, Ruth Ravel Dawe, brought back from France.