Night service – Charles X era

Description

Night service "Sunny Fog"

Opaline glass, blown-molded, gilding, polychrome painting.
France, Charles X era (1824–1830).
Carafe height: 30 cm.
Glass height: 15 cm.
Condition: excellent condition.

The reign of Charles X marked the golden age of French opaline glass, one of the most refined materials in glassmaking during the first half of the 19th century. Thanks to a particularly complex manufacturing technique, master glassmakers succeeded in creating a dense, opaline white glass, imbued with a soft, luminous glow. These creations were far more precious than ordinary glass, as the composition of the material, as well as the melting and cooling temperatures, demanded extreme precision; the slightest variation could cause the characteristic opaline effect to disappear.

Night services held a special place in 19th-century European lifestyle. Installed in the bedrooms of aristocratic residences and wealthy bourgeois homes, they served a daily purpose while also contributing to the refined décor of the interiors. Each element was designed as part of a harmonious whole, unified by its proportions and decoration.

All the pieces in this service are adorned with sumptuous gilt decoration featuring intertwined vegetal scrolls, palmettes, and motifs inspired by Baroque and Rococo decorative traditions. The milky whiteness of the opaline glass softens the brilliance of the gilding, giving this particularly rich ornamentation remarkable depth and nobility.

This night service is a representative example of French glass art from the Charles X era, a period when opaline became the symbol of refinement and when objects intended for daily use were elevated to the status of true decorative works of art.