Opaline soliflore

Soliflore, or narrow-necked vase, intended to hold only one flower, in Italian opaline in the neoclassical style. (1950-1970.) The body is a semi-translucent milky white and the foot is a bluish white with iridescent and transparent aspects. The original label, which was in too poor condition and which was removed when cleaning our object, revealed the words "opalina fiorentina", meaning "Florentine opaline", designating a particular type of glass called opaline made in Tuscany, in the region of Florence in the mid to late 20th century. "Empoli" glass, from the city of the same name (Empoli, Florence, Tuscany), made by Stelvia and blown by hand. But what is opaline? Opaline is a type of decorative glass reminiscent of porcelain, known since the 16th century in Venice, initially created from the combination of calcined bone and tin oxide added to glass or crystal, and which was very popular in the 19th century, mainly in France. It is an opacified glass, that is to say made opaque, often milky white, but it can also be colored blue, green, pink, or other pastel shades. Opaline glass, following its spread in the workshops of the greatest master glassmakers throughout Europe and in France from the 18th century, will be made by adding substances such as tin oxide, bone, horn, but also ash, silica, lead or phosphate to the glass to give it its opaque and satin appearance. Height: 23.5cm. (/9.25in.) Width: 9cm. (/3, 54in.) Depth: 9cm. (/3, 54in.) Weight: 365g. (/0, 8lb.) A souvenir from another era, this object may show some signs of wear.