The IPBA is proud to welcome a very special limited edition bottle as the 11,000th item in our Virtual Museum!. It is the “Le Flacon Tortue Red Edition” by Guerlain. They describe it as follows:
“An exceptional creation for a unique event, the myth of the legendary Flacon Tortue is being reborn in a flamboyant Métier d’Art edition. This crystal masterpiece handcrafted by the illustrious House of Baccarat, celebrates the 110th anniversary of the original creation sculpted by the master glassmakers to mark the Guerlain’s historic boutique’s opening in 1914 on Paris’ Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Two symbols meet for this double anniversary, Guerlain’s legendary bottle is adorned in an incandescent red, Baccarat’s signature colour.
The glassmakers shape the molten material by hand, giving life to this Metier d’Art piece, a real treasure trove of meticulous detail. Possessing unique know-how, these artisans keep alive the techniques passed down from generation to generation for 260 years. They sculpt the bottle, engrave the 88 stylised facets and polish it with rigour to reveal all the flamboyant red crystal’s radiance. The Dames de Table of Guerlain then comb the silk threads one by one with art and precision, following the ancestral technique of “barbichage” and seal the bottle’s neck with a delicate wax seal.”
This was a limited edition of only 32 pieces, and contains the “Champs-Élysées” perfume extract. This instance still has the original clear plastic shield protecting the delicately fanned silk neck cord.
Members may also view the original clear crystal “turtle bottle” in our Virtual Museum.
