Topic: Unusual Enameled Opaline Snake Jar

[lewisaroyer]

Hello all. I am hoping for some help identifying this unusual enameled piece. The design features several insects, flowers, fruits, snakes and even some human subjects, one of which appears to be holding a pitchfork and floating through the air like a kite. An angel and a mousetrap also make the list. I've been told this is most likely Harrach but I've been unable to locate anything similar. The pattern seems so distinctive yet I am unsure as to how to describe it. Any thoughts or recommended resources appreciated!

[lewisaroyer]

Here are a few more pics

[lewisaroyer]

Few more

[NevB]

Bizarre decoration but beautifully done! What caught my eye were the frog and the mousetrap. After a quick search the frog seems to be a European edible/water frog and if you Google "old French mousetraps" you will find ones of the same design. That and the general appearance of the piece does indicate it may be French.

[chopin-liszt]

It is fascinating, and reminds me of antique Limoges porcelain. You might be onto something with a feeling of France about it, Nev. My feelings are very French too.

Thank-you for posting such wonderful, clear, accurately illustrative images of this piece - your photos themselves are a thrill to see, lewisaroyer. 

[NevB]

Yes Sue, I was just thinking that if lewisaroyer couldn't find any glass the same, it might be worth looking at French porcelain to see if there's anything similar, or even Chinese/Japanese.

[chopin-liszt]

This is definitely glass. The pics are wonderful enough to be able to tell. 

[NevB]

I was thinking more of the decoration Sue    which was very often copied from porcelain.

[lewisaroyer]

Thanks for your input everyone! I actually shared this with a Bohemian group on facebook and the administrators seemed confident this would be Harrach (Bohemian) so the suggestion of French here has me really wondering. Is there any museum or expert I could show this to? With the illustrations I feel this may be a special piece or even a museum quality piece. Any direction to resources for identification are greatly appreciated!

[chopin-liszt]

Harrach would probably be up to producing this quality of work, but I'm a great deal less sure about design.  It does not look remotely Bohemian to me.