Antique French Opaline Open Salt, Wheelbarrow, Palais Royal
Always popular are these early to mid-1800s French opaline 'whimsey' items from the Palais Royal boutiques of Paris (formerly the Palace of Cardinal Richelieu), we're pleased to once again have found a white opaline wheelbarrow which has a functioning rolling wheel, bright gilt ormolu framework, a lovely scalloped form to the opaline 'salt' cup. As you may know, these old opalines are monstrously expensive in Paris shops, IF you can find one at all. I can think of one or two boutiques in the Paris Flea market and also the Louvre Antiquaires where this one would have a price tag 3-4 times that we've put on it. They often buy ours, mark them up, so be a savvy collector, and buy your own 'Grand Tour' French opaline treasure here, smile broadly as you window shop in Paris - yes, buy your airline ticket with the savings. Look for other of our other opaline pieces listed this week, as well, we have been adding several new finds! Buy them here and pretend you bought all of yours in Paris if you want your friends to be impressed (smile). We won't tell! By the way, those last couple of images are antique 1700s intaglio prints of the Palais Royal, the last of them being of a wonderful celebration held in the interior courtyard, complete with fireworks - the Palais Royal was a center of elite society for several centuries, and the boutiques that flank the garden or promenade catered to this wealthy and titled clientele with the finest goods, luxurious pleasures, whimsical items such at this one. Very good to excellent condition for age and type. A single 'flaw' in the old opaline's casting process that appears as a little line which you can see in our images. This is not a crack or hairline, but a natural occurance in the blown-mold process for this bit of opaline glass. There is no damage to the wrapped wire ormolu wheelbarrow-formed framework which is brightly gilded. Wheel turns and is working fine. There is a reseller's sticker on bottom, which we will leave there since it, too, is antique. We'd date this beautiful opaline open salt to c.1830-50.
Item ID:
811opwhlbar
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