Opalescent Glass Clocks. Opalescent glass is a general term for clear or coloured glass with a milky white opaque or translucent effect often to either the rim (such as Davidson’s Pearline range) or centre of the glass item. French makers Lalique and Sabino, and Jobling from England are all well known for their opalescent art deco glass production. Opalescent glass has also been produced in various other countries including Italy and Czechoslovakia. One way of creating opalescent glass is the slow cooling of the thicker areas of the glass, resulting in crystallisation. Another method is used in hand blown glass, using two layers of glass, with the outer layer containing chemicals which react to heat to cause opalescence. Opalescent glass can also be created by reheating certain areas as they begin to cool, again with the use of heat sensitive chemicals. Reference: 20th Century Glass
Below are some examples of opalescent glass clocks including clocks by Lalique and Sabino.
DEUX COLOMBES CLOCK, NO. 727 designed 1926, opalescent moulded R. LALIQUE, wheel-engraved FRANCE 22.5 cm. high
Sold for GBP 4,750 at Christie’s in 2013
Lalique for Maison ATO Sirenes Opalescent Glass Electric Clock Of square shape, the circular dial heightened with black enamel and a radiating design, flanked by six nude mermaids, signed. Height 11 inches, 11 inches square.
Sold for $12,000 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2005
Translucent opalescent blue art glass case, designed by Marius Ernest Sabino, having raised relief love birds and stylized floral and foliate decoration, mounted with brass feet and back. The electric clock by Whitehall Hammond has an interior light with on/off switch and a second hand, the back cover plate with access for setting and starting the clock, unsigned, very good condition, needs rewiring, 10.5″ x 7″ x 4″
Sold for $1,400 at Treasureseeker Auctions LLC in 2017
A RENE LALIQUE NAIDES OPALESCENT GLASS CLOCK, CIRCA 1926 of square form, moulded in relief with naked female nymphs etched mark R. Lalique, France 11.3cm high
Sold for 3,840 AUD at Sotheby’s in 2008
A RENÉ LALIQUE OPALESCENT, FROSTED AND POLISHED GLASS ‘INSÉPARABLES’ CLOCK MOULDED ‘R.LALIQUE’; PRE 1947 with separate gilt metal stand; Marcilhac no. 765, design introduced in 1926 11.2cm high
Sold for £ 1,875 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2018
Marble, onyx, regulé France, c. 1925 Pierre Le Faguays (1892-1962) – French sculptor Art Déco table clock with male figurine Clock made of opalescent glass Dimensions: 37 x 64 x 14 cm (height x width x depth) Good original condition, fully functional This male figurine seems to brace his feet against the clock made of opalescent glass. The clock has the shape of a rock. Already in Art Nouveau the seemingly controlled and static postures of the figures increasingly separated from typically floating forms. Now in the time of the Art Déco the bodies of the figures are opening up and often move in dynamic ways. Thus, the artists reach an interesting silhouette that applied exactly to the taste of the time. The flat form of the base is reinforcing the dynamism of the figure striving to its left. The French sculptor Pierre Le Faguays, also known under his pseudonyms Fayral and Guerbe, created the figure around 1925 in France.
Sold for €1,800 at Auctionata Paddle 8 AG in 2016
