1870 GUERLAIN FRAGRANCE BOTTLE SELLS FOR $54,500

A RARE ENGRAVED GUERLAIN FRAGRANCE BOTTLE FROM 1870 HAS FETCHED A RECORD SUM OF $54,500 AT AN AUCTION IN THE CITY OF ARCACHON, IN THE SOUTHWEST OF FRANCE. SUED QUEST, REPORTED THAT ON 1.JUNE THE GLASS FLACON, ENGRAVED WITH THE FRAGRANCE HOUSE'S ORIGINAL ADDRESS, RUE DE LA PAIX, WAS INITIALLY EXPECTED TO FETCH $25,000. ORGANIZED BY ARCACHON AUCTION HOUSE TOLEDANO, THE SALE TOOK PLACE IN THE PRESENCE OF FRENCH FRAGRANCE EXPERT BERNARD GANGLER. ACCORDING TO THE AUCTIONEERS, 80% OF THE BIDDERS FOR MORE THAN 250 FRAGRANCE BOTTLES UNDER THE HAMMER WERE FRENCH. EXCEPTIONS INCLUDED PARTICIPANTS FROM RUSSIA, INDIA AND CHINA, WHO CALLED IN VIA TELEPHONE.