An exceptional Medici vase in amethyst-colored opaline crystal. It consists of a gilt bronze base adorned with stylized laurel motifs. The base supports the opaline glass, decorated with bands, palmette friezes, garlands of blue flowers, and bouquets of multicolored roses. The vase is adorned with a central medallion depicting an animal scene (The Fox and the Goat, Book III, Fable V), a subject taken from La Fontaine's Fables. The decoration is strongly inspired by the style of Jean-Baptiste Desvignes.
In 1820, technological advancements brought new possibilities to opalescent objects. Jean-Baptiste Desvignes discovered a way to paint on opaline crystal and glass. He used only plant-based pigments, which he applied to the opaline crystal. The tones, always matte, were limited to dark blue and red. The dominant gilding offered a repertoire of linear palmettes, flowers, and garlands. Desvignes created small illustrative scenes inspired by La Fontaine's fables, delicately colored in blue, soft green, ochre, violet, gold, or silver. Jean-Baptiste Desvignes's decorations reached their peak between approximately 1820 and 1826. Subsequently, his wife and two collaborators, Vincent and Blancheron, continued to use the same formulas and motifs to decorate opal, which came primarily from the Bercy crystal factory, founded in 1827.
Condition report: Good overall condition, slight wear to the gilding.
Bibliography references: Musée des Arts décoratifs Paris.
Y. Amic, L'opaline française au XIXème siècle, Paris, 1952, ed. Gründ;
Edith Mannoni, Opalines, Paris, Editions Ch. Massin, n.d., p. 31.
Delivery
Europe: 100 EUR
US/Canada/HK: 200 EUR
Rest of the world: 300 EUR
- Reference :
- 4049
- Width :
- 11 (cm)
- Height :
- 19 (cm)
- Depth :
- 11 (cm)
- Era:
- 19th century
- Style:
- Restoration, Charles X
- Materials:
- opaline, gilded bronze
