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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: glassobsessed on December 13, 2021, 10:48:43 AM

Title: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: glassobsessed on December 13, 2021, 10:48:43 AM
Everything about this goblet shows attention to detail and it shouts super quality to me, beautifully made. It feels a fair bit 'heavier than it looks' so maybe some lead content too, a nice tone and good sustain when flicked, a little over 12cm tall. I assume date will be somewhere within the Victorian era but is it possible to suggest where it may have been made?

John
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: Greg. on December 13, 2021, 11:51:02 AM
Very pretty piece John. A wild guess would be possibly French, Baccarat might be worth a quick search.
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: Paul S. on December 13, 2021, 12:48:42 PM
agree, it has the appearance of high quality - a good find  -  but, if it was French, then should we call it opaline?  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: flying free on December 13, 2021, 01:16:07 PM
It is  opaline but presume has a fiery shine under strong light so also opalescent.  And yes I also think it's French.  Probably 1850-1860 ish.
m
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: chopin-liszt on December 13, 2021, 01:38:51 PM
 :) The flowers are pansies, germander speedwells and dog roses.
The butterfly, while not coloured also seems to be one with specific marks rather than general. It has been painted to accurately illustrate the nature it depicts.
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: Paul S. on December 13, 2021, 01:50:09 PM
I'm not entirely sold on the idea of Rosa canina ;), though wouldn't argue   -   but agree with the other species mentioned  -  and as for the butterfly, most such depictions on glass are stylized and not intended to represent an actual species.    In this instance it's just possible that with those 'eyes' then maybe the artist was thinking of a peacock.

I'm obviously always going to have a problem with opalescent versus opaline, and now I see we have opalescent combined with opaline  -  heavens where will all this end ;) ;D

But this mustn't detract from a gorgeous piece of glass.
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: flying free on December 13, 2021, 04:15:04 PM
 I think the blue flowers are mysotis?
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: chopin-liszt on December 13, 2021, 04:22:31 PM
I've just checked images of both - forget-me-not is one that was frequently used to convey messages, as are pansies.  :)
But the painted flowers have a lighter outer edge to their petals, as speedwell does, but forget-me-not doesn't.  ???
But your suggestion is better than mine, M.  ;D
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: Paul S. on December 13, 2021, 04:33:41 PM
sorry, in the world of botany no idea what mysotis is  -  I thought it was something that decimated rabbits ?
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: flying free on December 13, 2021, 07:21:11 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: glassobsessed on December 14, 2021, 09:27:57 AM
Thank you everyone, very useful, French it is then. Yes it has a fiery opalescent glow especially in sunshine, there is a tiny hint of that in the photo of the foot but it is faint in this set. The foot does show that glow much more strongly than the body where it is mostly obscured by decoration.

Searching with the term opaline was much more productive than whatever I was trying before! There are several items that appear similar in style with that pale pink painted background so I am happy with French as the consensus:

https://conceptantiques.com/en/product/paire-de-vases-en-verre-opaline-rose-et-blanc-de-la-maison-baccarat/
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/170054-baccarat-pink-japonisme-birds-and-moon-o
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/248344449/victorian-baccarat-opaline-glass-urn
Title: Re: Opalescent goblet with enamel flowers and gold butterfly
Post by: flying free on December 14, 2021, 10:24:51 AM
I think it might be a little earlier than those perhaps.  Although acknowledge the floral painting and vogue for this later in the century.