White Opaline Covered Sugar Bowl With Turquoise Rim, France, Napoleon III Period

Jam jar on a pedestal, in milky white opaline, with its integrated display stand; the ruffled and scalloped edges of the lid and display stand are accented with a turquoise-blue border; the pedestal is highlighted with fine gilding; the lid is topped with a button-shaped handle.
France. Napoleon III / Second Empire period (mid-19th century, circa 1850–1870).
H_18 cm
Good condition. 

In the 19th century, French crystal manufacturers (such as Portieux, Baccarat and Saint-Louis) developed a wide range of tableware and toiletries in white ‘fair’ or ceremonial opaline, elegantly accented with wavy borders that were either painted or coloured throughout the glass (particularly in turquoise blue). These scalloped pieces brought a touch of freshness and sophistication to the salons of the Second Empire.

Our jam dish, which is part of the refined opaline glassware produced in the second half of the 19th century, reflects the Second Empire’s taste for tableware with flowing lines, combining the softness of milky opaline with the brilliance of the blue border.