French Opaline Two-Handled Vase - Jaune Jonquille - 1890s

A joyful splash of Belle-Époque charm: this French opaline vase in warm jaune jonquille (buttery primrose yellow) is hand-enamelled with sprays of blossom, tiny blue berries and a sweet little bee. With its rippled, frilled mouth and elegant twin handles, it’s a bright, poetic accent for any room.

Opaline glass captured the romantic light of the late 19th century, and this vase shows exactly why collectors love it. The body is blown in a softly opaque primrose tone, then outlined and filled with enamel in deep green, forget-me-not blue, pearly white, and poppy red. A delicate bee hovers amongst the flowers, adding a whimsical note.

The amphora form - twin loop handles, waisted neck, and a flared, frilled rim - sits on a rounded foot. The decoration, with its fine black outlining and dot work, is typical of French pieces from the 1880s–1900 period, often associated with Saint-Denis and Vosges glassworks (e.g., Legras, Portieux/Vallerysthal). Unmarked, as many workshop pieces of the era were, but unmistakably French and full of character.

A lovely size for a small bouquet, or simply to glow on a mantel.

• Material: Opaline glass (jaune jonquille), hand-enamelled decoration
• Maker: Unmarked; French workshop attribution (in the manner of Legras or Portieux/Vallerysthal)
• Motif: Trailing blossoms, forget-me-nots, leaves, and a bee in polychrome enamel with fine black outline
• Style: Belle-Époque / Japonisme-influenced late 19th-century decorative glass
• Place of Origin: France
• Mark: None (typical for the period)
• Date of Manufacture: c.1885–1905
• Condition: Very good antique condition with gentle age wear. Enamel bright with only minor, expected rubs in places; a few tiny scuffs and specks to the surface; light wear at the foot ring; minuscule nibble to the rim edge noted under magnification only. No cracks or repairs.