Collecting Bottles Appraisal

Collection of Vintage Avon Novelty Cologne Bottles

This collection comprises four distinct vintage Avon novelty cologne bottles, each designed to mimic a familiar object, and reportedly still containing their original cologne. The set includes a white opaque glass bottle shaped like a bulldog's head with a black pipe stem forming the cap, a white opaque glass lighthouse bottle with a separate black plastic top, and two identical black opaque glass bottles in the form of paddlewheel steamboats, each with a clear plastic insert for the cabin portion. The bulldog bottle features sculpted details of the dog's face, including folds of skin and jowls, with the black pipe stem curving upwards and back. The lighthouse bottle is cylindrical with textured brickwork simulation, a rectangular window detail, and a black plastic cap designed as the lantern room. The two steamboat bottles are intricately molded in black glass, depicting the side paddlewheels, multiple chimneys (smokestacks), and a cabin area with a clear plastic insert, likely to represent windows or to show the cologne level. All bottles appear to be in good vintage condition with no immediately visible chips, cracks, or significant damage, though specific wear pertaining to their age (e.g., minor scuffs, fading of clear plastic parts) would require closer inspection. The presence of original cologne suggests they were carefully stored, which can be an important factor for collectors. These items are characteristic of the novelty cologne bottles produced by Avon predominantly from the 1960s through the 1980s, reflecting a popular trend of the era to package fragrances in decorative, collectible containers. The craftsmanship is typical for mass-produced glass novelty items of the period, with molded details providing character.