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Rare Perfume Set “The Charleton Line” (Decoration No. 743), 1941–1948 — Fenton Milk Glass
History and Provenance:
An exclusive two-piece vanity set consisting of a melon-shaped perfume bottle (Melon Form), measuring 6” in height, and a shell-shaped vanity tray for small personal items, measuring 6.25” × 4.5”.
The glass pieces were manufactured between 1941 and 1948 at the famous Fenton Art Glass Co. factory in Williamstown, West Virginia — renowned as the “Queen” of opaque white milk glass in the United States. The pieces feature the company’s signature Silver Crest design, with elegant, wavy, transparent glass rims.
The undecorated glass pieces made a long journey from Virginia to Manhattan, New York, where they arrived at the prestigious Abels, Wasserberg & Co. (AWCO) studio. There, European émigré artists, who underwent rigorous 18-month training within the studio, transformed the glass into luxury objects. Products from “The Charleton Line” were very expensive, sold only in luxury department stores in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and were considered symbols of wealth and high social status in the 1940s.
Decorative Features:
The set is adorned with rare hand-painted enamel decoration featuring the official geometric pattern “Charleton Red Geometric Decoration” (catalog decoration No. 743). The design consists of ruby-red diamonds, contrasting dots, and delicate stars rendered in genuine gold leaf (gilding). The original gold “Charleton” label remains fully intact on the bottom of the tray, with the decoration number 743 handwritten on it, guaranteeing the set’s 100% authenticity.
Condition:
* Perfume Bottle: 6” tall. In excellent condition. The delicate, wavy glass rim around the neck is completely intact, with no hairline cracks or tiny flakes. The gold trim along the edge is bright and unworn, and the decoration retains its shine.
* Stopper: Original matching faceted glass stopper with a ground-glass fit. It sits securely in place, with no chips or damage to the stem.
* Shell-Shaped Vanity Tray: Measures 6.25” × 4.5”. The decoration and gold detailing are in excellent condition. There is a tiny chip in the gold trim along the wavy rim (see photos). It is barely noticeable and has been taken into account in the price.
