Perfume & Seduction

Discover the finest examples of perfume bottles, gold boxes, porcelain objects, and other eighteenth-century luxury items that were used in the bathing and dressing ritual known as la toilette.

Originally a ritual of court society introduced by King Louis XIV, the term toilette—not to be confused with the modern use of the word—derives from the French word for a cloth—or toile—that covered the dressing table. Over the course of the early eighteenth century, the toilette evolved from an object (petite toile), to a set of objects (service de toilette), to a room, and finally to a lengthy ritual of rising and dressing that included luxurious pampering, primping, wardrobe assessment, and even meetings with special visitors to discuss current events. Rather than an intimate, private moment, a woman’s toilette was often a performance before a large audience.

This special exhibition will present examples of objects from Hillwood's collection that represent the finest luxury objects used in this elaborate ritual. A selection of objects from the private European collection of Givaudan, the Swiss manufacturer of flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics, founded in 1898 by the French brothers, Xavier and Léon Givaudan, will complement the Hillwood collection. Presented for the first time in the United States, the Givaudan collection of luxury objects for the service de toilette is one of the most important and complete in Europe.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website