Napoleon III French Lamp in Hand-Painted Opaline Glass, 1880s

Pleasing and elegant table lamp made of hand-painted pink opaline glass; the shape is slender and well-proportioned; the top where the lamp holder is housed is black metal; the shaped base is made of the skillfully pierced brass plate; a first-rate opaline glass of fabulous pink color was used for its manufacture; a skillful painter-miniaturist painted on it by hand and in relief delicate flowers, shoots, and graceful leaves, all aesthetically well distributed; he put meticulous care and artistic skill even in the smallest details; he chose soft and pleasant colors and used pure gold in large quantities; the whole design is very rich, but of unique refinement, a small work of art. The floral decoration is more developed in the front part of the lamp. This magnificent object was made in the Napoleon III style between 1880 and 1890 in France in artisanal workshops in Wimmenau, in the Vosges region, an area made famous by the important glassworks in the area (Saint-Louis, Lalique, etc.). Opaline is slightly translucent glass, opacified by means of phosphates, sodium, and calcium chlorides with the addition of tin oxides and talc, thus obtaining various shades of colors from pastel to milky white; opaline glass is much less dense and opaque than lattimo glass (much like porcelain); opaline proper is a French product that originated in the late 1700s-early 1800s in imitation of 17th-century Murano and German semi-opaque glass and had its heyday from 1820 to 1870 thanks to the achievements of French factories (Baccarat, Saint Louis, and Choisy-le-Roy); from the 1800s onward, opaline spread to all parts of the world with the handcrafted production of everyday objects. France, from ancient until modern times, is recognized as a producer of the best quality opaline glass. The lamp is in good condition. The item is prepared for the use of a lampshade, which is not supplied so that everyone can choose their favorite color and shape to match their decor. The electrical system is new but the wiring is European, voltage compatibility in other states should always be checked by an electrician before use. Measurements diameter cm.20, height cm.53.