Antique pair of opaline glass bowls, each hand painted with a scene of little animals hunting innocents. Possibly French or English and date to 19th century - about 1880 - 1900.

Each bowl is 8 inches in diameter and 2 1/2 inches high.

Bowls each stand on 3 round, gilded feet. The borders are gilded and have a band of superb lilac, which looks very French. Another gold circle encloses the lilac band. Within the bowl is an exquisitely handpainted vignette of animals. In one scene a very naughty looking dog ( Dachshund by the looks of him), is about to pounce on a gaggle of ducklings, who flee to the water, beautifully painted in deep blue in the foreground. Flowers and foliage surround the animals.

In the other painting, a sly fox peeps through the long hay in front of which a group of bunnies is nibbling on large leaves in a little clearing. One rabbit with a stalk in his mouth seems to have just caught sight of the fox.

Details of both paintings are superb - clearly painted by a masterful artist. They are the height of Victorian cute combined with love of moral tales and very likely these paintings are depictions of a fable or moral story.

The bowls are in very good condition. Both paint and gilding look great. One bowl has a fleabight on the rim - so small I couldn't begin to measure it. No other chips/cracks/damage/restoration of any sort.

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