Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Ballarde, Inc

Ballarde, Inc of Paris and New York was established by Martin de Markoff; launched a range of fragrances between 1930 and 1945. The company was affiliated to the perfume company Prince George of Russia.



The name Arcadi was probably derived from Arcadi Ivanovitch, Count Markoff and a play on the name, Arcady, an ideal rustic paradise. Arcady is a poetic term for Arcadia, an ancient region of Greece with a tradition of rural, bucolic innocence.

The Ballarde fragrances were suggested to be worn by certain types of women, that is, by their hair color, which was typical of the period, many perfume companies used these types of suggestions, especially for those who had a hard time picking perfume for themselves or others. L'Automne was for Brunettes, Le Printemps for Blondes, L'Ete for Titians (red heads) and Charme was for the Aesthetic.

The original Arcadi was described as a sweet floral perfume with a dominant fern note. It was presented in a flacon by Baccarat, design # 741. This bottle, in clear crystal, was also used for the perfume Etourdissant by Jean Desprez.


The New Yorker, 1934:
"De Markoff's Toilet Essence, which is a cross between perfume and eau de Cologne, and the new Ballarde perfume called Arcadi — light and flowery."


Stage, 1935:
"BIGGEST BOTTLE OF PERFUME We've ever seen in our life is at De Markoff's
— it's a larger-than-quart flask, made by Baccarat, holding Ballarde's Arcadi perfume and costs $275. "


The Ballarde perfume bottles were made in a gorgeous shade of teal green glass and were amphora shaped with cut facets on the shoulders of the bottle, with a tapered stem ending in a pedestal foot. the matching glass stopper was an upside down version of the bottle with a pointed top. The bottles were designed by Martin de Botelho (Martin de Markofff) in 1934.



The bottles were presented singly in individual cylindrical satin pouches in shades of brown, wine, green and russet. A lovely satin covered, round presentation box was also available holding a trio of perfumes. In 1942, it was reported that Ballarde had to discontinue the satin pouches as they could no longer procure the packaging. By 1943, retailers were still selling off old stock, but I could find no other advertisements for the perfumes after this date.




The fragrances of Ballarde:

  • 1933 Arcadi 
  • 1935 Le Charme d’Arcadi
  • 1935 L’Automne en Arcadi
  • 1935 L’Été en Arcadi
  • 1936 Le Magnolia d'Arcadi
  • 1936 Le Muguet d'Arcadi  
  • 1936 Le Tuberose d'Arcadi  
  • 1936 Cologne Elixir Prince George of Russia
  • 1938 Tiara
  • 1944 Alexa




The New Yorker, 1935:
"Ballarde: Satin-covered cylinders contain Arcadi perfumes — Charme, L'Ete,
Le Printemps, and L'Automne; $1.50. All luscious floral blends. Larger sizes, too."


The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1935:
"RARE PERFUMES. GLAMOUR IMPRISONED IN CRYSTAL! when you give her 
precious, priceless gifts of personal glamour, an aura that surrounds
her with new charm. We suggest Guerlain's "Shalimar" or Ballarde's "Arcadi" . . .
two rare scents that whisper to her "You're the tops!" (Street Floor).
Guerlain's Shalimar $23.07 Ballarde's Arcadi $32."


The Ogden Standard-Examiner, 1935:
"Perfume Spectacular! Ballarde Arcadi: Charme, L'Automne, L'Ete, ' Le Printemps."


The Delineator, 1935:
"Choosing a perfume for somebody else is risky, therefore consider those perfume sets
which give you several chances to go ...De Markoff scores a scoop with a set of four Ballarde perfumes. You may select two or three or one as your feelings and your purse dictate."


The New Yorker - Volume 12, 1936:
"Lord & Taylor have a large assortment of Myrurgia perfumes, which are very
Spanish and special indeed. Clavel is a heavy and superb carnation; the ...
Ballarde offers Magnolia, Tuberose, and Muguet. Reta Terrell's Russian White Violet (new) is too wonderful...Lubin: Mekong, sort of a sachet type of perfume."


Stage, 1936:
"Royalty seems to be on a cosmetic vibration this year anyway; witness the new
Ballarde perfume, done up in a handsome black carafe, and called "Elixir Prince
George of Russia."


Drug and Cosmetic Industry - Volume 41, 1937:
"Lait de Cologne is said to be non-alcoholic and is recommended for after shaving 
and after bathing. One of the most interesting Cologne packages to make its
appearance this year is Ballarde's Cologne Elixir Prince George of Russia."

















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