Porcelain Covered Bottle with Rozenburg’s ‘Viper and Cockscomb’ Eggshell Design

In this exquisite covered bottle designed by Samuel Schellink for Rozenburg, a dynamic viper is depicted in an aggressive, poised stance. Its head is raised and swaying rhythmically, hissing loudly as it coils tightly, baring its fangs in preparation to strike. The viper’s distinctive zigzag pattern of green and sienna scales serves both as camouflage and a warning to potential threats. Adding to its intrigue, the snake incorporates mythological elements, including a “beard” of two hairs. This bearded serpent motif, rare and symbolic, appears across various Classical contexts and media, including Greek, Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian art and literature. Interpretations of this motif vary: some see the serpent as male, while others view it as an anthropomorphic deity. The bottle stopper is stylized like a flame, enhancing the dynamic and otherworldly character of the design. The sides of the bottle are adorned with twisted cockscomb flowers, their coral-like blooms characterized by tightly clustered, crinkled, and ridged textures. These flowers hold religious significance, often planted outside temples in India and China. Together, the bottle evokes an exotic image of beauty and danger, conjuring the allure of distant lands and referencing the origins of the fragrance’s ingredients for a Western audience.