PAIR OF ENAMELLED OPALINE GLASS VASES, ATTRIBUTED TO THE ATELIER OF JEAN-FRANÇOIS ROBERT1845-1855 with flared necks above shouldered bodies and tapering to circular feet, each polychrome enamelled with three birds perched on flowering and fruiting branches and vines, within turquoise arabesque borders with gilt highlights (2)34.5cm highNote: Jean-François Robert (1778-c. 1855) was a skilled decorator at the Sèvres Porcelain Company, from 1806/7 until 1843. He worked for various important patrons of his day including Elisa Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and sister of Napoleon, and for the Duke and Duchess of Berry. His work with glass was also significant, when in 1837/8 he patented a new technique for painting colours and gold onto the surface of glass objects. At this time he left the porcelain company and set up his own workshop at Sèvres to pursue the art of decorating glass vessels and windows. He was the principal decorator of opaline glass of this type. Such was his skill, that all the major glass manufacturers commissioned his work including Baccarat and Saint Louis. He retired in 1855 at the age of 73. Major museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Corning Museum of Glass have similar pieces attributed to Jean-François Robert within their collections.