Pair of Antique Hand Painted Opaline Portrait Mantel Vases

These lovely ladies stole my heart. Painted on soft apricot opaline glass, each vase features a different portrait framed by delicate floral garlands and ornate gilt decoration. The warm color glows beautifully in the light and makes a lovely contrast with the white cameo backgrounds. Vases like this were mouth blown in Bohemia, France, and other continental countries - originally made to grace a mantel, they still have that same elegant presence today.

Displayed on a bookshelf, sideboard, mantel, or tucked among your favorite antiques, they bring personality and a sense of history to a room. I especially love that they are not identical, and it is getting rare to find a real pair. Each portrait has her own expression and character, more like companions than a matching set. They are antique and have lived a full life. One vase has a small chip to the back of the base, there is some wear to the gilt decoration around the necks, and one vase has two linear inclusions within the glass from the making process. None of these things kept me from bringing them home. If you can appreciate antiques for their beauty rather than perfection, I think you'll love them too. A beautiful pair for your mantel, bookshelf, or cabinet, and a lovely reminder of a time when every room held something beautiful simply because it pleased the eye.

• Measure 2-7/8" x 5-1/2".

COLLECTOR'S NOTE

Portrait vases like these were among the decorative treasures found in well-appointed European homes during the nineteenth century. Hand painted examples featuring ladies' portraits were created to be admired and displayed, often standing proudly on mantels in pairs. Today collectors are drawn to them for exactly the same reason—the combination of artistry, color, and personality that makes each pair feel entirely unique.