Gilded Serpent Cloche Appraisal

Periwinkle Blue Decorative Cloche with Gilded Serpent Motif

This item is a decorative bell cloche or possibly a stopper, made of what appears to be ceramic or glass, with a matte, pale periwinkle blue finish. Its form is conical, flaring out slightly at the base, and topped with a curved, pointed finial that is entirely gilded in a rich gold. A prominent decorative feature is a sculpted serpent, possibly made of bisque porcelain or ceramic, that wraps around the body of the object, starting near the finial and descending towards the base. The serpent is predominantly off-white or cream-colored, adorned with a consistent scale pattern highlighted in gold. The tail end of the serpent, visible towards the bottom right, tapers to a point. There is significant visible damage, particularly a large chip or loss of material on the upper left side, revealing the underlying body material as white. Small traces of gold trim are also visible around the base of the object, complementing the gold on the finial and serpent details. The craftsmanship of the serpent's scales suggests attention to detail. This piece likely dates from a period when such whimsical or classical motifs were popular in decorative items, perhaps late 19th to early 20th century. Its artistic style leans towards Art Nouveau or Victorian aesthetics due to the elaborate nature of the serpent and the use of gilding.