French enamel vases (for small floral bouquets or a branch of violets or "posies". The pair of matching posey vases you see here are fabulous works of art. Dating c.1850-1900, Not even any tiny hairlines visible in our huge enlargements, and no restoration nor flaws to note other than age to the metal bases, perhaps a tiny nip to the cut rim of each of the 2 original blown crystal inserts. You won't see a flaw on these with naked eye. Fabulous - superb enamel work. And now these fine Victorian violets or posey vase pair is ready to enjoy and display. The Lion's head cabriole legs elevate the pair in both height and appeal, but it's the fine jeweled enamel that these are valued for. And those white spots you see are just the reflections of our photographer's lights. The base color is a deep cobalt blue, and the work is stunning, pristine - not a flaw to note on the enamel work. FABULOUS find!
The kiln-fired enamelist is an artist working in powders, almost blindly since the coloration is not at all like the finished product. Enamel powder suspended in fluid, all of it looking like muddy shades of mauve to blue as the artist applies it to the slightly convex copper (or sometimes silver or gold) plaque. The work is done in layers, kiln-fired in between, and it is only at the end firing that the final image is as you see it. I've worked this enamel process before and it is exceedingly difficult to master. It would take years for an apprentice to become a master, and this work is definitely by a master enamelist. Our images show it greatly enlarged, but in the natural size, the subtleties are astounding. None finer!