Opaline Glass Etui with Gilt Ormolu Frame and Accessories
A 19th century 'palais royal' opaline glass etui of egg shape, with gilt ormolu frame suspended on chains and original finger ring, a gilt ball suspended from the base, opening to reveal a small fitted compartment with thimble, scissors, needle and case
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- Ormolu - Ormolu was popular with French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th century for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks and other decorative items. True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam. Due to the health risks associated with using mercury, this method of creating ormolu was discontinued in France in the 1830s. A substitute was developed consisting of about 75% copper and 25% zinc, however it was inferior to the bronze version. It was often lacquered to prevent it tarnishing.
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