19. C French Pair of Ormolu Mounted Opaline/Opalescent "Bulle de Savon" Vases

Description

19th Century French Pair of Ormolu Mounted Opaline/Opalescent "Bulle de Savon" Vases The pair is formed as elongated baluster vases with a flared rim, rounded shoulder, tapering body, and a short stem rising from a circular foot. Each vase is executed in opaline glass with a soft white tone showing a faint iridescent surface, commonly described as “bulle de savon,” or soap bubble, referring to the subtle light film effect visible across the surface. The rims are mounted with ormolu collars cast with a continuous band of fine diagonal hatching. The lower sections are set into circular ormolu bases with a repeating geometric pattern in low relief, bordered by a plain outer edge. The glass bodies remain undecorated, with a smooth surface and even thickness, while the mounts are finished in a gilt surface with light chasing. The pair is identified as French production. The term “bulle de savon” refers to a specific opaline finish developed in France, characterized by a slight iridescence achieved through controlled cooling and surface treatment of the glass. French workshops producing opaline glass during the 19th century developed techniques to achieve consistent translucency and surface effects. The combination of molded glass forms with separately cast ormolu mounts reflects standard production methods, where glass bodies were shaped and polished before being fitted into metal mounts. The precise casting of the bases and rims, along with the uniform glass finish, indicates a high level of production quality, with well-preserved surfaces and complete mounts.

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