Rare perfume flask, white faceted glass with gilt Neo-Classical figures by James Giles, c.1770

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Rare perfume flask, decorated in the studio of James Giles, the opaque white glass completely facetted and superbly painted with gilt Neo-Classical figures, one side with a male ‘Nike’ type winged figure, leaning on a pillar, the other side with a striding female with opjects, within ornate hexagonal bands enclosing flowerheads and greek key, set in a saw-tooth oval on an elaborate starburst & flowerhead ground following the facets.
Circa 1770.

15cm
Small repaired chip at neck to one side, well restored; minor wear to gilt

The rare Neo-Classical scenes were taken from Sir William Hamilton’s 1767 publication – Collection of Etruscan, Greek, and Roman Antiquities from the Cabinet of the Honble. Wm. Hamilton – which included hundreds of accurate copies of Greek red-figure vase paintings of the 5th century BC .

These prints were were used as inspiration at the very end of James Giles production, and reflect the rise in interest of the Classical world, and the emergence of the ‘Neo-Classical’ style. They are a contrast to his more well known Rococo designs of the earlier 18th century.
The glass was possibly provided by Whitefriars.

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