French Pink Opaline Glass Egg Casket

In the Palais Royal taste, with gilt-metal mounts

A particularly attractive French pink opaline glass casket of egg form, dating from the late nineteenth century and conceived in the Palais Royal taste. The smoothly polished pale-pink opaline body is divided horizontally by an engraved gilt-metal mount incorporating the hinge and closure. Opening at the centre, the two closely fitted halves form a small jewel or trinket casket. The restrained egg form contrasts with the finely worked gilt-metal border, giving the piece the jewel-like character associated with French opaline dressing-table and novelty objects of the period.

Related French Palais Royal and Palais Royal-style opaline caskets of the nineteenth century are known in egg form, typically combining coloured opaline glass with finely worked gilt-bronze or gilt-metal mounts.