This is for an antique French Mercury glass bowl dating c 1870.
Mercury glass is a double walled glass object, into which a mixture of silver nitrate is poured, so giving the effect of a silver item.
The hole, usually in the base, was then sealed, to prevent loss of the silvering and oxidisation.
These were known as ‘poor man's silver' for many years but are now collectible in their own right.
This piece is a bowl, or maybe a chalice which would have been used in religious ceremonies.
It has a stemmed column, with the bowl sitting on top of the stem.
The bowl has hand orders painted floral decoration around it's outside, which is of flowers and leaves on trailing stems.
The painting is in an opaque dark cream, which clearly shows on the mercury glass.
On the interior of the bowl there is a gold gilt finish which is in really good condition.
The bowl has a flat foot, and underneath the piece has it's original insert, to stop the internal silvering disappearing.
The mercury glass bowl measures 12.5 cm across it's diameter of the bowl, and it stands 12 cm tall. The foot base is 8 cm across it's diameter.
Overall, the glass piece is in fabulous condition, with no cracks or damage. There is minimal foxing and loss of the silvering to the whole piece.
The hand painting is also in lovely condition.
I love these mercury glass pieces as they are so pretty and this one is exceptionally so.
I use the French postal system which is the National carrier which is reliable but can be a tad slow. I send packages tracked which can be followed on their website. I will always help with translating where items are, if so required. The French charge on size and weight, and I try and only charge actual postage. I will always try and combine if possible, and give the best price I can.
Product code: Antique French Mercury Glass Bowl - Chalice – Hand painted Flowers orders – Gilt lining – Brocante