Early 19th Century Opaline Crystal Cup With doves

White opaline wide-rimmed cup on a small pedestal with a gilt bronze mount that is delicately sculpted with flowers. The gilt bronze border is adorned with a finely chiseled decoration of flowers. Handles decorated with dove patterns resting on curved branches drinking water. This motif is inspired by an ancient motif discovered in Tivoli and mentioned by Pliny.
French Restauration . Circa: 1815-1830.
Dim: W: 9.1 in – D: 5.5 in – H: 4.3 in.
Dim: L: 23 cm, P: 14 cm, H: 11 cm.

From the end of the 18th century, France began to produce a colored crystal or opaline. Many objects are produced, the first forms of which are strongly inspired by Antiquity. But it was during the French Restauration that colors such as "pigeon's throat, milky white or turquoise ..." appeared made possible by the addition of gold salts. Thus, famous manifactures such as those of Creusot, Baccarat or Saint-Louis became the main production centers. (ref. Museum of Decorative Arts Paris)

Bibliography:
L'opaline française au XIXe siècle/Yolande Amic.- Paris : Gründ, 1952.
Edith Mannoni, Opalines, Paris, Editions Ch. Massin, pp. 31-43 ;
J. Bedel, « Cristal aux couleurs romantiques... l'Opaline », L'Estampille/L’Objet d’art, 1975, n°63, p 23.