Topic: Help ID Opaline Glass Decanter with Applied Enameled Blue Snake

[mhgcgolfclub]

Help please to ID this Opaline glass decanter with applied enameled blue snake. I assume its a decanter missing a stopper.

My first thought was most likely French but could also be Bohemian and could date to the 1860's.

Height 8" and weighs 1050gm.
Polished pontil.


Thanks Roy

[flying free]

is it possible to take the photos on a white background please?
Is the enamelling actually silver?
Is it crizzled or is that little bubbles in the glass refracting light?

m

[mhgcgolfclub]

Thanks m

A couple of pictures taken without flash but not in very god light, I think the pictures with flash make the enamele look more silver. Difficult to decide exact colour but would say dark gold / brown.

The painted decoration is the same colour as the painted snake.

The decanter is not crizzled.

Thanks Roy

[flying free]

Thanks

The design of the enamelling reminds of of Bohemian glass.  This scroll and rococo type decoration appears on lots of bechers I think.
The design on the snake I haven't been able to find though, I mean the design shape of the 'scales'.   So far most seem to be gilded and are slightly different shape of scales.
Also most of those I've seen have indented eyes on the snake so far.  Yours are enamelled on.
Lovely piece   Will be interesting to find out more about it.
Also with  the body /lower neck cut into shape as well. A bit different.

Could the 'enamelling' be pewter? I think Harrach used pewter decoration, so it could be pewter perhaps giving it the strange colour effect.

m

[mhgcgolfclub]

Thanks m

A few more pictures which are a true likeness of the colour. I am not sure if the enamelling is pewter but its possible.

Thanks Roy

[flying free]

the enamelling could be what is known as Silbermalerei or silver enamel.
see an example here (not of your roccaille swirls but the effect can be seen as very similar)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5746387_283-vase-boehmia-alabaster-glass-antique-vintage-old

I though Josephinenhutte might be worth looking up, but their snakes appear to have indented eyes on the ones that were attributed as far as I could see.
That was a cursory glance though so might be worth digging in depth more. 
Maybe it might have had a flat stopper rather than a pointy one or rounded knop type stopper?  Just thinking a flat stopper would fit the shape better - not that that helps id though    just musing.

Further musings are that the face of the snake for some reason makes me think of Harrach pieces.  I cannot tell you why,simply that it looks friendly and I always think of Harrach for those. 

m

[Lustrousstone]

Looks like tarnished silver to me.

[flying free]

piece on page 159 of Das Bohmische Glas Band III that has a cobalt blue snake wound around a white decanter and becher.
Schachtenbach c.1854.
The snake does not have indented eyes but instead they are gilded on. 

[mhgcgolfclub]

Thank you m

[mhgcgolfclub]

Do you think my decanter would be better described as alabaster. I did find a similar white alabaster becher with blue snake .

I also thought that  round flat stopper rather than a pointy one.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/4268347_252-becher-schachtenbach-glass-beaker-snake-vintage

Roy