COBALT BOTTLE

Late 19th-century cobalt blown glass barber bottle with hand-painted white enamel floral decorative motif. Simple, delicate, and with a stunning hue that changes depending on the light from deep midnight to a somewhat moodier cousin of Yves Klein blue.

Known as “smalt” when ground as a pigment, cobalt glass is prepared with a cobalt compound in a glass melt. With the earnest examples dating back to 2000 BCE, cobalt smalt glass became a popular material in 19th century European industrial design.

Perfect as a bud vase, or on its own.

American, 1890

Dimensions: 4W x 4D x 8H