This is only a brief introduction as you can find much more info on Lalique & Coty online or in books. This article will hopefully help you understand Lalique’s roles in the production of Coty’s bottles.
In 1907, Francois Coty commissions renowned jeweler Rene Lalique to design his perfume labels. Coty's success lay not only in his excellent perfumes, but also in his packaging genius. He believed perfume should be sold as luxuriously as rare jewels. Lalique, however, was not content with his commission to design labels, and provided Coty with designs for the bottles as well. The teamwork of these two would eventually revolutionize the perfume industry, by presenting fine perfumes in attractive containers at affordable prices.
In time, Lalique designs his first perfume bottles for Francois Coty. As Lalique did not have his own commercial glassworks at that particular moment, the bottles were produced by Legras et Cie.
Lalique promptly acquired his own production facilities, firstly a small factory in Clairfontaine and then in 1909 another small glassworks factory at Combs-la-Ville near Fontainbleau. which he would purchase in 1913. Lalique continues to experiment with glass manufacturing techniques, applying technology from French wine and pharmaceutical industries. First patent application concerning large-run glass production techniques is submitted. When Lalique could not meet impossible production targets - Coty's own glassworks were capable of 100,000 bottles a day - Coty sacked him.
Shortly after the first world war, production was concentrated at a new factory set up in Alsace at Wingen-sur-Moder, purchased in 1921, which continues as the modern day company's production centre. During World War I, the glass factory of Rene Lalique manufactured many practical items made necessary by the ongoing war, including plain glass bottles and containers for hospitals and medicines.
Sales of perfume in bottles of Lalique design soared. And in quick time Coty's rivals recognised the marketing advantages of selling their essences in tasteful pressed glass bottles. Many of these rivals also offered perfumes in frosted glass flacons, some sellers today have mistakenly attributed these to belonging to Lalique, when in reality, Lalique did not produce them. Some of these were made by other French companies such as Baccarat, Julien Viard, Lucien Gaillard, Depinoix, Pochet et du Courval, Verreries Brosse, plus Czechoslovakian firms such as Hoffmann, as well as American glass companies.
By the year 1925, Lalique had provided designs for most of the top perfumers of the age including D’Orsay, Molinard, Tokalon, Caron, Isabey, Roger et Gallet, Arys, Worth, Forvil, Guerlain, Renaud, Houbigant, Jay Thorpe, Gabilla Lucien Lelong and many more.
In 1907, Francois Coty commissions renowned jeweler Rene Lalique to design his perfume labels. Coty's success lay not only in his excellent perfumes, but also in his packaging genius. He believed perfume should be sold as luxuriously as rare jewels. Lalique, however, was not content with his commission to design labels, and provided Coty with designs for the bottles as well. The teamwork of these two would eventually revolutionize the perfume industry, by presenting fine perfumes in attractive containers at affordable prices.
In time, Lalique designs his first perfume bottles for Francois Coty. As Lalique did not have his own commercial glassworks at that particular moment, the bottles were produced by Legras et Cie.
Lalique promptly acquired his own production facilities, firstly a small factory in Clairfontaine and then in 1909 another small glassworks factory at Combs-la-Ville near Fontainbleau. which he would purchase in 1913. Lalique continues to experiment with glass manufacturing techniques, applying technology from French wine and pharmaceutical industries. First patent application concerning large-run glass production techniques is submitted. When Lalique could not meet impossible production targets - Coty's own glassworks were capable of 100,000 bottles a day - Coty sacked him.
Shortly after the first world war, production was concentrated at a new factory set up in Alsace at Wingen-sur-Moder, purchased in 1921, which continues as the modern day company's production centre. During World War I, the glass factory of Rene Lalique manufactured many practical items made necessary by the ongoing war, including plain glass bottles and containers for hospitals and medicines.
Sales of perfume in bottles of Lalique design soared. And in quick time Coty's rivals recognised the marketing advantages of selling their essences in tasteful pressed glass bottles. Many of these rivals also offered perfumes in frosted glass flacons, some sellers today have mistakenly attributed these to belonging to Lalique, when in reality, Lalique did not produce them. Some of these were made by other French companies such as Baccarat, Julien Viard, Lucien Gaillard, Depinoix, Pochet et du Courval, Verreries Brosse, plus Czechoslovakian firms such as Hoffmann, as well as American glass companies.
By the year 1925, Lalique had provided designs for most of the top perfumers of the age including D’Orsay, Molinard, Tokalon, Caron, Isabey, Roger et Gallet, Arys, Worth, Forvil, Guerlain, Renaud, Houbigant, Jay Thorpe, Gabilla Lucien Lelong and many more.
Thank you for the history of Lalique and Coty.
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