Vivienne Kingland’s own mother was the inspiration for her antique perfume bottles collecting and dealing passion.
Kingland is a regular standholder at IACF Shepton Mallet where she will be laying out her brilliantly hued bottles at the March fair on Friday to Sunday, March 9-11.
Kingland, who serves on the committee of the London chapter of the International Perfume Bottle Association (IPBA), started collecting perfume bottles in the 1970s.
She said: “I was inspired by a crystal bottle my mother had bought at a street market for just a few shillings. A few years later, as a dealer, it was a natural progression to focus on perfume bottles which I still do today, with prices from £50 up to £1000+. My own passion is bottles with fine enamels on silver or gold.
“I will have a large stock at the March fair including a romantic cranberry glass and silver heart-shaped bottle by the Birmingham maker of scent bottles, Charles May, 1895, for £220 and a c.1880 turquoise double-scent for £195.”
Kingland added: “After so many years of dealing in scent bottles I find the market is still buoyant, especially for the more unusual pieces.
“We have an enthusiastic chapter of the IPBA which brings together like-minded collectors.”
The dealer also stands at Antiques for Everyone at the NEC, Continuity Fairs’ events at Westpoint in Exeter and “one or two other venues”.
