A PAIR OF CHARLES X ORMOLU-MOUNTED 'GORGE DE PIGEON' OPALINE GLASS VSES

These lovely and delicate vases are of a rare and particularly striking type of opaline glass known as 'gorge de pigeon', which was also referred to as 'rose hortensia'. Opaline glass is formed from a type of lead crystal which is then colored by the addition of other substances. In the case of 'gorge de pigeon', the color is formed by the addition of particles of gold and pewter, which accounts for its rarity. For an example of a similar pair of ewers, see Christie's, London, 5 July 2001, lot 86 (£47,000).