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Pair of Antique Uranium Glass “Dolphin” Candlesticks – Vallerysthal & Portieux, France, Late 19th / Early 20th Century
€350Bid from €340
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Private sellerBruxelles, BelgiumOn Whoppah since April 2024 • 89 sales
Product description
Pair of Antique Uranium Glass “Dolphin” Candlesticks – Vallerysthal & Portieux, France, Late 19th / Early 20th Century.
A remarkable pair of antique pressed uranium glass candlesticks by the celebrated French glassworks Vallerysthal & Portieux, dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
The two candlesticks are identical in design yet particularly charming as a pair because of their different shades of uranium glass: one has a delicate yellow-green tone, while the other displays a deeper, more saturated green. This variation gives each piece its own character while preserving the symmetry of the pair.
The elaborate historicist design is especially striking. The tall faceted stems rise from richly decorated bases featuring flowers, scrolling foliage and three fantastic fish traditionally referred to as “dolphins.” These creatures bear little resemblance to the modern naturalistic image of a dolphin. In European decorative arts, particularly from the Renaissance through the 19th century, dolphins were frequently represented as imaginary sea creatures with large heads, curled bodies and pronounced fins. Such motifs appeared extensively in fountains, furniture, silver, ceramics and glass, making these candlesticks a fascinating continuation of a centuries-old decorative tradition.
Made from pressed uranium glass, the candlesticks display the characteristic yellow-green tones for which this historic type of glass is celebrated, revealing a spectacular fluorescent glow under ultraviolet light. Antique uranium glass has become especially sought after among collectors in recent years. Historical examples are particularly desirable today, as this distinctive glass is no longer produced on the industrial scale seen during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, making surviving pieces increasingly collectible.
Beyond their unusual material, the candlesticks are impressive examples of the technical possibilities of late 19th-century pressed glass. The moulding captures an extraordinary amount of detail, from the fins and bodies of the dolphins to the small flowers, leaves and textured ornamental bands along the stems. Their tall, architectural proportions make them equally attractive as functional candleholders or as striking decorative objects.
Condition: Both candlesticks are in very good, almost excellent antique condition. There are only minor imperfections associated with the historical pressed-glass manufacturing process, such as small irregularities in the glass and moulding. These are entirely normal for pressed glass of this period and should be regarded as characteristics of the original production rather than damage.
Historical Note – Vallerysthal & Portieux
The names Vallerysthal and Portieux are frequently found together for an important historical reason. Both were major glassmaking centres in Lorraine. Following the Franco-Prussian War and the annexation of part of Lorraine by the German Empire, Vallerysthal found itself in a complicated commercial position, particularly regarding access to the French market. In 1872, the Vallerysthal and Portieux glassworks were united under the Société des Verreries Réunies de Vallerysthal et Portieux.
The union brought together the experience and manufacturing traditions of two important glassworks and developed into a major enterprise producing an enormous variety of tableware, household objects and decorative pressed glass. This shared history explains why antique pieces from the period are frequently identified and collected today under the combined name Vallerysthal-Portieux, and why attribution to one individual factory can sometimes be difficult without a documented catalogue reference. These unusual uranium glass candlesticks are a beautiful example of this rich French glassmaking tradition at the turn of the 20th century.
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsGreenMaterialGlassNumber of items2Height24 cmWidth12 cmDepth12 cm
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About this seller
Private sellerBruxelles, BelgiumOn Whoppah since April 2024 • 89 sales