Richard Hudnut, La Rêverie, 'Day Dream', 25 ml. of 0.85 oz. Flacon, Parfum Extrait, Julien Viard, 1926, New York, NY, USA ..

Richard Alexander Hudnut lived from June 2, 1855- October 30, 1928, and was an American businessman recognized as the first American to achieve international success in cosmetics manufacturing. The company once maintained separate US and European headquarters on Fifth Avenue in New York City and on the Rue de la Paix in Paris, respectively.

Although his fortune had been built around cosmetics and beauty products, he preferred to be known as a "perfumer”. Hudnut's father Alexander was a pharmacist with a store at Broadway and Ann Street in New York City. The name Hudnut derives from Hodnet, from Shropshire in England. After graduating from Princeton University, Richard Hudnut toured France and returned with the idea of introducing French-style perfumes and cosmetics to American women. In 1880 he registered his name as a trademark in both France and the United States.

Early Richard Hudnut fragrances included Queen Anne Cologne in 1880, Violet Sec in 1896, Aimée, DuBarry, Vanity, and Three Flowers, all of which were produced in the early 1900’s. Product lines include Violet Sec Toilet Water, DuBarry Beauty Products, Yankee Clover products, Three Flowers products, and a highly successful line of hair care products.

La Rêverie .. the Daydream .. was launched in 1926. The exquisite flacon was designed by Julien Viard. Viard's crystallerie's full name was C & J Viard & Viollet le Duc. It was established by the sculpter Julien-Henri and his father Clovis, also a sculptor, who specialised in glass creations. Julien started designing and making perfume bottles in 1915. His first trade-marked item was 'Garden of Karma' for Dubarry reg on 14th May 1915. After Clovis Viard's death in 1927, Julien continued running the workshop and in 1938, the company merged with its primary producer, C Depinoix et Fils.

Viard was also known as a finisher for the crystalleries Baccarat, Depinoix, Maugenest, Pochet et du Courval, Bobin, Societe Parisienne de Verreries, which all produced Viard models, then returned them to Viard for finishing, this included surface recutting, polishing, enamels, gilding, patinas, and stopper adjustments.

There are not too many perfumes notes remaining in La Rêverie, so I am selling this for the flacon, which is highly collectible and desirable. The last photo shows what the box would have been like. This listing does not include a box. The perfume has turned over the years, so I will be shipping this flacon empty and as a fine collectible.