Opaline Glass

 My new love in the glass world is Opaline Glass.  The term "opaline" refers to a number of different styles of glass and it can be French or even Italian. In France, the term is used to refer to multiple types of glass, and not specifically antique colored crystal or semi-crystal, as is commonly thought, with 'opaline' often a mistakenly-given term referring to the color of a particular type of glass, rather than the age, origin or content of the glass. This is lovely blue opaline decanter.

'Opaline glass' is also a decorative style of glass made in France from 1800 to the 1890s, either opaque or slightly translucent, appearing in white or a variety of bright colors.   Love this French goblet.

Opaline glass was produced throughout nearly the entirety of the 19th century, though it reached its peak of popularity in the 1850s and 1860s. The glass is opaque or slightly translucent, and can appear either white or brightly colored in shades of green, blue, pink, black, lavender and yellow. Love these yellow cordials.

 Many different pieces were produced in opaline glass, including vases, bowls, cups, coupes, decanters, perfume bottles, boxes, clocks and other implements.

All opaline glass is hand-blown and has a rough or polished pontil on the bottom. There are no seams and no machine engraving, and most opaline glass is not branded or signed. Many pieces of opaline glass are decorated with gilding. Some with hand-painted flowers or birds.

In the 20th century Italy began producing a similar type of glass, labelled 'opaline veritable'. 

Love this vase!