Collecting Green Glass Commercial Perfume Bottles

In this guide, I will introduce you to the wonderful world of commercial perfume bottles made up of green glass. The allure of these bottles lies not only in their aesthetic appeal but also in the history and craftsmanship behind them. Most of the bottles in this guide date to the 1920s and 1930s period.

Starting a collection with a specific focus, such as green glass perfume bottles, can add a unique dimension to your hobby. It provides a clear direction and allows you to curate a cohesive and visually stunning collection.

When embarking on this journey, consider exploring various sources such as antique shops, flea markets, online auctions, and specialized collector forums. You may encounter a diverse range of designs, from simple and utilitarian to ornate and intricately decorated bottles.

It's essential to educate yourself about the different styles, manufacturers, and historical context surrounding these bottles. This knowledge will not only enhance your appreciation for the pieces you acquire but also help you make informed decisions when assessing their value and authenticity.

As your collection grows, documenting each acquisition with details such as the maker, design characteristics, and acquisition date can enrich your understanding of the evolving trends in perfume bottle design and production.

Additionally, connecting with fellow collectors can be a rewarding aspect of the hobby. Exchanging insights, sharing discoveries, and participating in community events or exhibitions can deepen your engagement with the subject and foster meaningful connections with like-minded enthusiasts.

Remember, collecting is as much about the joy of discovery and appreciation as it is about the tangible objects themselves. So, immerse yourself in the enchanting world of green glass perfume bottles, and let your collection reflect your passion and individual style!. 

This is not a complete list as there are probably hundreds of others to be found, if you have one not listed and would like to share a photo, please let me know and I will include it here.

Dolores Del Rio and Her Perfume Collection

Dolores Del Rio and her beautiful perfume collection.

In this photo I spy:

• Lerys 6 bottle presentation in bronze caddy
• Parfum des Champs Elysées/À Travers Champs/Guerlinade or Candide Effluve by Guerlain
• Jungla by Myrurgia c1933
• unknown early Elizabeth Arden
• Secret de la Perle by Pleville c1926
• two Prince Matchabelli bottles
• La Jacee by Coty
• Sans Adieu by Worth c1929 (Lalique bottle)
• Les Lys by D'Orsay c1922 (Lalique bottle)
• Hattie Carnegie c1925 (Depinoix bottle)
• Lentheric (Baccarat bottle)
• Elizabeth Arden
• She is holding an early Lancome bottle, possibly for Kypre or Bocages

I cannot make out all of the bottles, nor can I make out labels, but if you can, please comment below. 

SA Hanlin, Collector of 2500 Perfume Bottles

Samuel Albert Hanlin arrived in Newton in 1890 and started a store known as Hanlin Supply & Mercantile Company. At one time, he supplied provisions for the Santa Fe Railway commissary cars. He also operated a grocery and mercantile with JJ Lewis. Hanlin's store eventually took up the entire building at 601 North Main and was advertised as the "largest cash department store in the state".  In the 1920s, the store became the Cayot Mercantile.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37717639/samuel-albert-hanlin

Photo from 1935 showing perfume bottle collector SA Hanlin, who believes that "perfume bottles are exquisite things" and has been collecting for 14 years. Among his collection of 2500 bottles are gorgeous Czech, Baccarat, jeweled examples and atomizers, some DeVilbiss and others. I don't believe there are any commercial bottles in the cabinet shown.

There is a passage in a book, Romance in a Junk Shop, from 1938, mentions, SA Hanlin:

"Perfume bottles, in the designing and manufacture of which attempts have been made for ages to create a beauty that would please the sight and touch as much as the aromatic contents please the smell, have long been favorites with collectors. One young lady I know collects them in pairs. The king of perfume bottle collectors patronizing my store — he has called regularly twice a week for four years — is S. A. Hanlin. 

Hanlin, a prominent merchant in Newton, Kansas, after operating the Hanlin Department store for more than 25 years, along around 1910 retired from the merchandising business and started out to see the world - America first. In Cairo, Egypt, in 1921, he became fascinated by native perfume bottles, which he bought as a nucleus for a collection  to represent the different countries of the world. Little did he think at the moment that it would assume the proportion it has and that later he would make a second trip around the globe in search of more bottles.  

Mr. Hanlin called for perfume bottles. Showed him five. Three he had, two he bought. The actual number of bottles in his collection to date, he says, is 3215. Reports having made a fine acquisition while in Pasadena this week — a quaint and beautiful Chinese bottle reputed to be 150 years old.  If I could supply everything that is called for I would soon be rich."

In 1940, he hosted a tea for the members of the Matinee Musical Club where he showed off his collection of 4600 perfume bottles.

Evelyn Brent's Perfume Collection

Actress Evelyn Brent was known for her love of perfume bottles, although she stated she didn't wear perfume. During two 1930s interviews, she claimed to have 147 bottles, another claimed 500! The star's boudoir featured a special three tiered glass cabinet in which she displayed her flacons. Also displayed amongst her bottles are the fragile glass animals by the Bimini glassblowers. You can see these at the corner closest to her face, a white swan stands up regally amongst the other fauna.