I think Anita is probably correct insofar as this is a little akin to the vaseline versus uranium spat that occurs, occasionally. It seems to depend on whereabouts on the globe you are, as to how the words are defined, unfortunately. Probably true to say that us Brits. define opalescent as that property which gives glass similar light refracting qualities as opals i.e. a sort of fiery look when held up to strong light (the chemical make up of the glass being responsible for this effect).
However, the definiton of these words seems also to depend, on whose book you read...................
Quoting from Raymond Notley's book on Popular Glass of the C19 and C20, where he speaks of specifically of Opalescent older, pressed glass (and he includes U.S. pressed glass in this group), he says, quote........"If glass of a uniform thickness was used, an even opalescent effect was produced and was called 'opaline".
I've also just looked in Skira's 'Dictionary of Modern Decorative Arts 1851 - 1942' by Valerio Terraroli (published in Milan 2001) - and you can't get much nearer to the origins of Jackie's duck than that when looking for definitions of 'opalescent' and 'opaline'.
There is no entry for opalescent - but there is substantial space given to the entry for opaline (although nowhere in that description is the word opalescent used).
And if you aren't confused by now, then must be the only one who isn't
Topic: Large Pink and white duck 27 cm. Opalesccent? Alabastro? Maker?? (Read 693 times)
