Antique Paperweights for Sale
1603 | Antique Franchini Type Aventurine Venetian
Murine Paperweight Scent Bottle. circa 1840-1880.
This rare Franchini type miniature Venetian scent bottle has two
early murrine canes. On the front is a murrine of a
gondola. The murrine on the back depicts a winged lion on
water, or the Lion of St. Mark. This murrine has a small
fracture in the cane. The six-sided shape is similar to known
scent bottles made by Giacomo Franchini. The glass is filled
with aventurine and colored swirls. It is in very good
condition aside from the fractured murrine and has normal age
appropriate wear. There are also small fractures on the
neck. It does not have its original stopper and hinged
cap. Most likely it also originally had a chain. Despite
the similarity to known Franchini items, I am selling this as
"Franchini Type" as other glass artisans of the period probably
copied the work of the Franchini workshop. For comparable images, see the following pages in Miniature Masterpieces - Mosaic Glass 1838-1924 by Giovanni Sarpellon. A similar six-sided scent bottle appears in figure 520 on page 57. Similar gondola murrine appear in figures 425-439 on page 47. The lion of St. Mark appears in figure 422 on page 46. Note on condition: The scent bottle has several flaws. The cane of the Lion of St. Mark has a small fracture. There are also small fractures on the neck. The scent bottle does not have its original stopper, hinged cap, or chain. It also has age appropriate wear. Giacomo (Jacopo) Franchini (1827-1897) worked with his father Giovanni Battista Franchini (1804-1873) on the development of millefiori canes incorporating figurative designs as well as floral patterns. His is best known for his miniature portraits of the famous people of his time. He produced some of the most remarkable glass portraits and many were incorporated into scent bottles, walking stick handles and other objects, some useful and some purely decorative. His creative period ended in 1863 when he was confined to an asylum. For more details on the remarkable work produced by the Franchini family and others of the period, see the book Miniature Masterpieces - Mosaic Glass 1838-1924 by Giovanni Sarpellon. Miniature size: Just over
2 3/8" tall by just under 15/16" wide by 11/16" thick..
It weighs two ounces. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5561 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Millefiori Scramble Paperweight with Rabbits. circa
1860. This is an antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
scramble or end of day paperweight. It is filled with a
wonderful assortment of colorful millefiori canes, twists, and other
glass bits. There are at least two different running rabbit
canes, one visible from the top and the other visible from the
bottom. Excellent condition. I believe this paperweight
has been restored. You will enjoy studying the variety of
millefiori canes in it visible from both the top and the base. This paperweight has a sticker on the base from the Selman Auction 44 (Fall 2009) Lot 96. The previous owner paid $575 ($500 plus a 15% bidders premium) for this paperweight. The catalog says there are two rabbit canes visible from the underside, but I could only find one. Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory. The New England Glass Company (NEGC)
operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888.
You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass
Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of
the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New
England Glass Companies covers both B&S and
NEGC. Size: Just under 2 7/8” diameter by 1 3/4”
high. The base is ground concave. The profile is
relatively flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5558 | Large Antique Baccarat Dupont Period Type
III Pansy Paperweight with Star Cut Base. circa
1900-1920. Baccarat Pansy paperweight with leaves and
stem. The base is finished with a Baccarat star cut.
This paperweight is from Baccarat's Dupont period. This style
of pansy is called a type III pansy. It consists of two large
velvet purple petals above over three lower petals. The lower
petals are amber yellow over a white base. Each lower petal
has a purple tip and three dark lines radiating from the central
cane consisting of star canes with a red whorl center. A large
paperweight in great shape. Note: This paperweight has been restored in the past and has a relatively flat profile. There is plenty of glass and it could be reshaped to give it a proper profile. Note about provenance: The previous owner acquired this paperweight at the Selman Auction 37 (Fall 2006) Lot 41 and paid $460 including the bidders premium for the paperweight. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2" high. The
bottom is polished flat and finished with a Baccarat star cut
base. It has a relatively flat profile as shown in the
pictures. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $295 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3506 | Antique Baccarat Miniature Single Clematis
with Millefiori Garland Paperweight. circa
1845-1860. Antique Baccarat miniature red/orange single
clematis with six ribbed petals, five leaves, and a stem. The
center of the flower is a complex millefiori cane with two rings of
white star shaped canes arranged around a red bulls-eye cane.
The clematis is surrounded by an outer garland of alternating ten
white and ten blue and white complex millefiori canes. The
white canes in the garland match the cane at the center of the
clematis flower. The blue and white canes have a ring of
arrowhead canes around a Baccarat star cane. The design is
placed over a clear ground and finished with a Baccarat star cut on
the base. The paperweight is unsigned but I guarantee that
this is a genuine Baccarat millefiori paperweight from the classic
period 1845-1860. A unique addition to any collection of
miniature paperweights. Great color. Note: The flower is noticeably off-center in this paperweight. Note on white glare: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. According to Paul Dunlop in Baccarat Paperweights: two centuries of beauty, the single clematis is much rarer than the double clematis. Miniature Size: 1 15/16" diameter by just under 1
7/16" high. The bottom is ground slightly concave and is
finished with a Baccarat star. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$1,750 postage paid in the US. US sales only for this paperweight. Delivery will require a signature. Click on the picture to see a larger image. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period (1845-1860), but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights. It is known that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights. Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making. These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him. The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934. New research of the Baccarat archives has identified the actual maker as Joseph Boyé (1877-1948). He is recorded as the maker of millefiori canes and millefiori paperweights during this period (1920-1934). Very little is known about Mr. Boyé, but there is enough similarity in the millefiori canes to suggest that he had access to the original molds or some of the original millefiori canes from the classic period. He later trained another glassworker, Georges Brocard, to make open concentric paperweights in 1946. Armed with this knowledge, Brocard was influential in the revival of paperweight making at Baccarat in the 1950s. Another glassworker, Louis Idoux (1882-1941), is recorded as making the Baccarat pansy paperweights during the 1920-1934 period. You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights in the new book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. |
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4747 | Antique Paperweight Style Mystery
Object - Probably a Cut Down Candle Holder. circa
1900. I don't know for sure what this was originally. It
is safe to assume the shape has been altered because it has no
apparent use in its current form except as paperweight. It has
a cup at one end and the other end is faceted with a flat
base. The middle section has a paperweight form with ice pick
flowers and small bubbles. The faceted end has a five sided
shape in the center with five sloping cuts away from that. I'm
certain it is an antique and that the cup end has not been
modified. The way the bubbles in the faceted end are towards
the center suggests that the cup was originally the up side.
I've discussed this with other collectors and our best guess is that
this was originally a candle holder for a fairly large candle which
would fit the cup. It is also likely that the original shape
was supported by a five sided stem and larger base to provide
stability. If you look at pictures of older style candle
holders or candlesticks you can find some with a round cup and
faceted stem. An interesting object - too good to throw in the
trash. I'm not asking much for it. Note: Although this object can be used in its current form as a candle holder, but caution you not to use it with a lighted candle. It doesn't have the large base that would normally provide the necessary stability. Size: In its current form, it is 3" long, the cup
has a diameter of 2". The inner diameter of the cup is just
over 1 1/2". The base is flat in the center. The
original shape is unknown. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4388 | Large Antique Clichy Faceted Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1845-1860. This
wonderful antique Clichy concentric millefiori paperweight has a
classic arrangement of three concentric rings of complex millefiori
around a blue pastry mold cane. The inner ring has nine Clichy
eight lobed edelweiss florets. The second ring consists of
fifteen purple eight lobed florets. The outer ring has an
alternating pattern of 24 pastry mold canes with six green pastry
mold canes and 18 pink pastry mold canes. In all, there are 49
millefiori canes over a clear ground. The canes are intricate
and very colorful. See the close-up picture for more
detail. There are six side facets and a top facet. A
fantastic paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Large Size: 2 5/8" diameter by just under 1 3/4"
high. The base is ground concave. There are six side
facets and a large top facet. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$950 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4542 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Mixed Fruit Paperweight. circa 1869. This is an
antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) mixed fruit paperweight,
consisting of five apples (or pears), four radishes (or cherries),
four large leaves and four smaller leaves over a nearly perfect
double swirl latticinio ground. The fruit have bright vivid
colors and the leaves show good definition. The cruciform
design is beautifully composed. Unfortunately there are of
striations (sugaring) in the glass that are exaggerated in the
pictures. The paperweight is in great condition and appears to
have been restored in the past. It displays beautifully.
Many authors call the fruit pears and cherries. I feel that they look more like apples and radishes. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. Size: 2 9/16" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5382 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Blown Glass Pear Paperweight - Good Condition. circa
1860. This is a wonderful antique New England Glass Company
(NEGC) life-size blown pear placed on a round clear glass
cookie. The pear is hollow. It is complete with blossom
end up in the air and an intact stem resting on the clear
cookie. The coloration shades from a light red to a
yellow-green. Unlike most examples of this type, there is no
crackling of the surface. The paperweight displays beautifully
with the sides or stem end displayed. Please read the note
below about condition. If you don't already have one in
your collection, this is a chance to acquire a NEGC blown pair at a
bargain price. Note on condition: Unfortunately there is an area near the blossom end that has a loss of surface color and a strange white stripe where no color was applied. There is some chipping near the blossom end. And there is also a tiny nick in the area of deep red where some color is lost. Finally, there is a fracture at the bottom of the pear visible only through the base. The most common NEGC blown fruit are apples and pears, although some collectors have seen other fruits. It is not unusual to find pieces of these fruit in scramble paperweights, mixed in with millefiori and twist canes. The shading of the colors on the exterior often leads to crackling and this flaw is found in varying degrees in many blown fruit paperweights. Normally a NEGC hollow blown pear paperweight would be a $800 to $1,000 paperweight but this one is offered at a considerably reduced price to compensate for the flaws in condition. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated
in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You
can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company
in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the
Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England
Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC or the newer
book by John Hawley devoted just to NEGC, The Art of the
Paperweight - The New England Glass Company. Size: The pear itself is 2 1/2” diameter by 3 1/4”
long. Overall dimensions are 3 7/16" diameter by 2 9/16"
high. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$325 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5378 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Seal with Millefiori Nosegay Handle. circa 1860-1888.
Interesting NEGC seal with millefiori nosegay handle.
The nosegay has three marvelous complex millefiori. The base
has a grid cut and is not customized for the owner. Fair to
good condition, with many small chips on the edges and
corners. The handle has a six sided top facet plus two rows of
six facets each. The stem and base are six sided. Rare
item. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. Size: The six-sided handle is 1 5/16" wide at its
widest. 2 5/8" long. The base is 7/8" width at its
widest. Heavily faceted. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$1,100 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. Delivery will require a signature.
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5102 | Large Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight with 25 canes including a Green and Pink
Rose. circa 1845-1860. This wonderful antique
Clichy spaced millefiori paperweight contains an arrangement of 25
millefiori canes on lace ground. There are three rings with 12
canes in the outer ring, six in the middle ring and six in the inner
ring plus a wonderful large green and pink rose cane in the
center. The canes are intricate and very colorful. See
the close-up picture for more detail. A fantastic paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Large Size: Just over 3 1/16" diameter by 2 1/8"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$1,295 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. Delivery will require a signature. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2270 |
German or Bohemian Souvenir
Paperweight with Ruby Stain Engraved Scene of Münster in
Freiburg. circa 1840-1910. This is
a large footed paperweight with an engraved image of the cathedral
of Freiburg im Breisgau in southwest Germany. There are
initials after the title which I assume are those of the engraver.
The engraving is done from the bottom which has a ruby
stain. The paperweight has a footed or pedestal base.
Size: 3 7/8" diameter by approximately 1 3/8" high.
The foot has a diameter of 3 1/2". For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$135 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3668 | Antique Bohemian Concentric Millefiori
Paperweight with Complex Canes. circa 1850-1900.
This is an antique Bohemian millefiori paperweight with some
interesting complex millefiori canes. The paperweight has
three concentric circles of canes around a complex center star
cane. The design consists almost entirely of complex canes,
with the exception of the red and white canes in the second
ring. In all a complex design built from a variety of canes
with many star canes. The design is well executed and it is in
perfect condition. The glass is slightly grey. This
paperweight has been professionally restored.
Bohemian Glass generally refers to the glass made in the regions that form the border area between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Most of these areas are now parts of the western Czech Republic. Size: Just over 2 1/4" diameter by 1 5/16"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2254 | Antique Thuringia Lauscha Bohemia
Millefiori Paperweight with Name Plaque "Hauptm.
Karl". Circa 1870 - 1940. Colorful antique
paperweight with colorful millefiori canes arranged around a central
name plaque. The name "Hauptm. Karl" is probably an
abbreviation of "Hauptmann Karl", meaning Captain Karl or leader
Karl. The complex millefiori canes repeat in alternating
patterns to make up the design with 26 canes in all. The
pattern is arranged over a multicolored frit ground. There are
some wonderful complex canes in this paperweight. An
interesting example of a type of weight that is becoming more in
demand as collectors learn more about the various Bohemian factories
and eastern Germany factories. This is a relatively rare item.
The maker of this paperweight is unknown, except that it is believed to originate in the region along the Czech - German border, hence the label Bohemian. Similar paperweights have are on display in the museum in Lauscha and are identified as being from Lauscha in Thuringia. The area was part of Bohemia prior to WWI. Similar examples can be found in the book by von Brackel, Paperweights: Historicism - Art Nouveau - Art Deco - 1842 to Today See pages 90-95 and figure 507 on page 221. Large Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 11/16" high. The
base is ground flat with a matte finish. There is a
depression remaining from the pontil mark in the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5385 | Large Antique New England Glass
Company (NEGC) Salmon Red Double Poinsettia Paperweight on a Blue
and White Jasper Ground. circa 1860 - 1888. This
is an antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) double poinsettia
with a two rings of five salmon red petals arranged around an
interesting complex millefiori center. Well place bubbles give
the appearance of dew drops. There are also three well formed
NEGC green leaves and a green stem. The design is placed over
wonderful blue and white jasper ground giving this paperweight a
patriotic red, white, and blue theme. Unlike many NEGC
poinsettias, the flower is fairly well centered. This
paperweight will be a worthwhile addition to any collection of
antique American paperweights. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC.
Large Size: 2 11/16" diameter by1 5/8" high.
The base is ground concave. It has a relatively flat
profile. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$495 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4216 | Antique Meisenthal France (Alsace
Lorraine) Five Bubble Pedestal Paperweight Chalice. circa
1870 - 1914. Antique paperweight chalice with a five bubble
paperweight stem and a glued bowl. Each bubble is made by
piercing the multicolored frit layer and leaving a stem. There
are four outside bubbles and one larger central bubble. In
this example the bowl was made separately and the base of the bowl
was ground flat, cut with a star pattern, and then glued to the
stem. There is a gold enamel or paint covering the joint
between the bowl and the stem. The paperweight stem has two
collars. This is a rare item.
Note: The bowl is not as deep as what would be expected for a wine glass. It is possible that it has been cut down or that the intended purpose was different (e.g., a candle holder). At first I thought the glued construction was unusual, but von Brackel discusses multiple examples of two part paperweights glued together from this region (France, Germany, Bavaria) in his book Paperweights: Historicism - Art Nouveau - Art Deco - 1842 to Today. See pages 202-205. Meisenthal is in north-eastern France (originally part of Alsace Lorraine). The village is famous for the Centre International d’Art Verrier (CIAV; international center for studio glass). Glass has been produced in Meisenthal since the early 18th century, and since the 19th century Christmas decorations from Meisenthal were famous – some say they were invented there. Large Size: The bowl is 2 13/16” in diameter, the
paperweight stem is 1 7/8” diameter, and the foot is 3 ľ” in
diameter. The entire chalice is 5 7/8” high. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3065 | Antique Baccarat Dupont Period
Miniature Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1900-1932. This is a very nice example of a Dupont period
paperweight from Baccarat. The middle (red) ring has great
Baccarat star and arrow canes. The inner ring has nice white
stardust canes with blue whorls in the center. There is a
slight chance that this is from the classic period, but the outer
ring is less distinct which is why I think it is Dupont. The
design is off center. A very nice example. Miniature Size: Just under 2 1/16” diameter by 1
1/2” high. Base is slightly concave. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$295 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1770 | Antique German Paperweight with Picture of
Student in Fraternity Uniform. circa 1870-1915.
This is an antique paperweight with a photograph or painting of a
young man in a military type uniform. The image is on a white
enamel plaque and is either a painting or a hand colored
photograph. The enamel plaque is placed in the center of a
spatter or frit ground. An interesting and rare type of
paperweight. The paperweight was most likely made in Germany or
Silesia. A great addition to any collection of antique
European paperweights.
Note: There is a fracture surrounding the image that is caused by incompatibilities between the plaque and the surrounding glass. This type of fracture is, unfortunately, fairly common in plaque weights of that period. After considerable research, I have concluded that the uniform is probably one used by a German or Austrian university student fraternity or student association. Members of these student associations surrounded themselves with the symbols of their fraternities. The uniforms are quite commonly depicted on German steins and other "studentica" of the period. For more information, see http://stein-collectors.org/library/articles/Student/studentica.html Size: 2 1/2” diameter by 1 3/4” high. The
bottom is fire finished with remnants of the pontil mark. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweightNew Price $185 (was $265) postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3112 | Magnum Antique Union Glass (Somerville,
Massachusetts) Paperweight "GEORGE M FLINT". Circa
1900-1929. This is a great Union Glass Company Paperweight
featuring a garland of eight lampwork flowers and the name "GEORGE M
FLINT" in the center. There are four red flowers and four blue
flowers, each with four petals, four light blue sepals, and a white
dot in the center. The letter "G" at the beginning of "GEORGE"
is reversed. In perfect condition. Union Glass Company of Somerville, Massachusetts is the third of three related factories in the Boston area. The first two were the Boston & Sandwich (B&S) Glass Company and the New England Glass Company (NEGC). Both B&S and NEGC produced paperweights at the same time, both were founded by Deming Jarvis, and both declared bankruptcy in 1888. Union Glass came a little later. It operated from 1851 to 1929. These name/date paperweights are made with lampwork flowers and letters and are not frit weights. There are some nice articles in the literature including a lengthy article in the Paperweight Collectors Association 2004 Annual Bulletin. There is also a short chapter in George Kulles' third book - Identifying Antique Paperweights - The Less Familiar. Nicholas Lutz worked at Union Glass from 1895 to 1904 and his influence can be seen on the Union Glass flowers although most of these weights were made after Lutz's death. There is some current speculation that Lutz had an apprentice who continued to work at Union Glass and was responsible for not only some of the better Union Glass examples, but also some of the fine lampwork paperweights attributed to Mount Washington Glass. Very Large Size: Just under 3 11/16" diameter by 2
5/16" high. It weighs 2 pounds 2 ounces. The
bottom is ground flat with a clear finish. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$345 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5367 | Antique Baccarat Rock or Sand Dune
Paperweight. circa 1880. This paperweight consists of a
sandy ground with two large hills flecked with green glass particles
and mica. An inexpensive way to get an antique Baccarat
paperweight.
According to Sibylle Jargstorf (Paperweights), Baccarat started making this type of weight in 1880. She advances the theory that Baccarat issued these weights in response to the reptile weights shown by Pantin at the 1878 Paris Exhibition. Some Baccarat rock weights contain reptiles or flowers, but almost all contain just rock motifs. Often these weights have incompatibility cracks throughout the weight, causing a glittery appearance which is part of the appeal. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Medium size: Just under 2 9/16" diameter by 1 5/16"
high. The bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture SOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2257 | Large Antique Dorflinger Red over White
Petaled Lily-Style Paperweight. circa 1895-1920.
This lily paperweight has
four large red petals or panels, each with a red color over a
white base. The petals form a deep well in the center.
They are pleated with a large bubble and second smaller bubble
between each pleat. There is also a larger center
bubble. The petals are formed by
pushing the top of the design down with a crimp. The
paperweight is confirmed to have been made at Dorflinger
Glass. An amazing large paperweight with considerable
depth. This style of paperweight is referred to as a lily paperweight. It is similar to the pleated umbrella-style paperweights and paperweight inkwells made at Whitall Tatum in Millville, NJ (circa 1900-1912). The Millville umbrella designs usually have more pleats, typically eight, but four paneled examples also exist. The umbrella shaped weights were originally modeled to resemble the wild tiger lily of Southern New Jersey. C. Dorflinger & Sons Glass Company was founded by Christian Dorflinger in White Mills, PA in 1865. Paperweight stoppers for bottles were made by Nicholas and Francois Lutz at Dorflinger during the period 1866-1870. Lily style paperweights and other large paperweights, some with foil lettering and dates, were made by other glass workers at Dorflinger from 1895 to 1920. Recent research at the Dorflinger Glass Museum has located a catalog including references to paperweights. Most of the credit for the later styles of paperweights has been given to Tobias N. Hagberg and Ernst Von Dohln, although other Dorflinger workers also tried their hand. None of the paperweights is dated later than 1915. Christian Dorflinger died in 1915 and the business closed in 1921. Large Size : 3 5/`6” diameter by 3 3/4" high.
The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2409
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Antique Clichy Faceted Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight with 11 roses. circa
1845-1860. This wonderful antique Clichy concentric millefiori
paperweight has a classic arrangement of three concentric rings of
complex millefiori around a blue pastry mold cane. The inner
ring has eleven green and white roses. The second ring
consists of fifteen pink pastry mold canes. The outer
ring has an alternating pattern of 24 canes with six purple pastry
mold canes and 18 pink and green canes. The 18 pink and green
complex canes resemble the color of pink and green roses. In
all, there are 51 millefiori canes over a clear ground. The
canes are intricate and very colorful. See the close-up
picture for more detail. There are six side facets and a top
facet. A fantastic paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Size: 2 5/8" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The base
is ground concave. There are six side facets and a top
facet. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$995 postage paid in the US. Price reduced (was $1,295) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2228
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Antique New England Glass Company Sulphide
Paperweight of Lajos Kossuth. circa 1851. Antique
Sulphide paperweight featuring Lajos Kossuth, former
Governor-President of Hungary. It is inscribed on the back
"EX-GOVERNOR OF HUNGARY SET AT LIBERTY BY THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA 1851".
Kossuth was a political reformer who fought for liberty for Hungary and held the office of Governor-President from April 14 to August 11, 1849. He was appointed to this position after the declaration of Hungarian independence from the Hapsburg Monarchy. He was widely honored during his lifetime as a freedom fighter and advocate of democracy in Europe. He demanded parliamentary government for Hungary and constitutional government for the rest of Austria. After abdicating the post of Governor-President he was effectively under house arrest until he was allowed to leave the Ottoman Empire in September 1851 on the American frigate Mississippi. He then toured Britain and the United States in a futile effort to get support for his cause. He won favor in New England and souvenirs and other commemorative items were created to celebrate his visit. This paperweight was probably one of the commemorative objects created around the time of his visit. Some authors suggest the inscription refers to US support of his cause. Instead, I think it may refer to his rescue from house arrest by the US. New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by Hawley, The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies. Most texts attribute this paperweight to the New England Glass Factory. It is believed that this paperweight may have been made for the 1851 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London. However, the attribution is subject to challenge and the precise origin of this sulphide paperweight remains elusive. The Bergstrom Mahler Museum has an identical paperweight which they attribute to Clichy. Hawley attributes this to NEGC in his 1997 book The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies. However, in his latest 2011 book on NEGC, he states that no firm evidence exists for this attribution, except that the specific gravity and fluorescence match that of NEGC. Hollister discusses this paperweight in his Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights and also states that their is no firm evidence tying the paperweight to NEGC or any other factory. My own opinion is that the glass quality is more typical of NEGC than the French factories. It may have originated in Europe or at another American factory. Ignore the glare from the lights. It was difficult to photograph this paperweight. The sulphide is white. Size: 2 9/16" diameter by 1 11/16" high. The
base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweightSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4304 | Antique Clichy Millefiori Nosegay
Paperweight 1845-1860. circa 1845-1860. This
antique Clichy nosegay paperweight has an great setup with three
nice Clichy complex pastry mold canes (purple, blue, and red &
white) plus five well formed leaves and a stem. It is well
centered over a clear ground. The red and white pastry mold
cane is unusual with red on the tip of each lobe and white in
between. Each of the three pastry mold canes has a complex
center. This paperweight does have some flaws and is offered
at a reduced price. There are scratches on the surface, but no
cracks or chips. The paperweight could be restored if
desired. In addition, there are bubbles in the glass including
one larger bubble. And the purple pastry mold cane is
deformed. All in all, it is an interesting addition to any
collection of antique paperweights. Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Small size: 2 3/16” diameter by 1 1/2” high.
The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2038 | Large Antique Czech / Bohemian Faceted
Masaryk Picture Paperweight. c.1900-1937.
Large faceted paperweight with a picture to Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk,
the first president of Czechoslovakia. The picture is placed
on a sulphide frame that rests on a multi-colored cushion of glass
bits. The frame has ornamental features on each side of the
picture. The name "T. G. Masaryk" is at the base under the
picture, although the initials are obscured by a bubble at the base
of the frame. The paperweight has one large window facet and a
fancy four part facet at the top. The paperweight was made in
Northern Bohemia during the period 1900 to 1930. The glass is
heavy crystal and weighs just over 26 ounces. An important
paperweight of historical significance.
Masaryk was the president of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1935. He died in 1937 at the age of 87. The picture was taken earlier in his life. Most likely this paperweight was produced during his presidency or possibly at the time of his death. It is also possible that it was produced earlier in his life when he was a political activist advocating for the creation of an independent Czechoslovakia. Von Brackel discusses this style of paperweight in his book Paperweights - Historicism - Art Nouveau - Art Deco . He shows several examples on pages 102 to 195 with a range of values up to $480. Unfortunately, the picture in this paperweight is flawed by a defect and bubble covering part of the face. The price has been reduced to reflect this flaw. Large Size: Just over 3" diameter by 3 3/4" high.
The bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweightSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3066
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Large Antique Baccarat Macédoine
(Scramble) Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1845-1860. This paperweight is made up of
multi-colored striped millefiori segments arranged at (mostly) right
angles. This is a antique paperweight made during the classic
period of paperweight making (1845-1860). A great example of
this unique style of antique Baccarat paperweight. Great
color. The Macédoine is a uniquely Baccarat style in which the short sections of latticinio (twists, filigree, lace) are arranged in a quilt-like pattern with many of the sections at right angles to each other. Usually there are no millefiori present. This pattern was originally made during the classic period of French paperweights (1845-1860). A modern version was produced in the 1960s and is similar to but different from the antique version. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period (1845-1860), but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights. It is known that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights. Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making. These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him. The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934. New research of the Baccarat archives has identified the actual maker as Joseph Boyé (1877-1948). He is recorded as the maker of millefiori canes and millefiori paperweights during this period (1920-1934). Very little is known about Mr. Boyé, but there is enough similarity in the millefiori canes to suggest that he had access to the original molds or some of the original millefiori canes from the classic period. He later trained another glassworker, Georges Brocard, to make open concentric paperweights in 1946. Armed with this knowledge, Brocard was influential in the revival of paperweight making at Baccarat in the 1950s. Another glassworker, Louis Idoux (1882-1941), is recorded as making the Baccarat pansy paperweights during the 1920-1934 period. You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights and the Dupont connection in the new book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. Large Size: Just over 2 7/8" diameter by 2"
high. The bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4245 | Antique Baccarat Miniature Spaced
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Four Gridel Canes on a Lace
Ground. circa 1847-1860. Antique Baccarat spaced
concentric millefiori paperweight with seven complex millefiori
canes, including four Gridel figures, the butterfly, dog, goat, and
deer. There are also two arrowhead canes and a multicolored
complex cane. Six canes are arranged in a circle around a
great center cane. The design is placed on a white lace ground
with bits of colored filigree. This perfectly balanced
miniature paperweight will be a wonderful to any collection antique
paperweights. According to Paul Dunlop in the Dictionary of Glass Paperweights, the first Gridel cane to appear was the lovebirds cane, which appeared in some 1846 paperweights. The others appeared in 1847 or later. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period (1845-1860), but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights. It is known that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights. Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making. These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him. The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934. New research of the Baccarat archives has identified the actual maker as Joseph Boyé (1877-1948). He is recorded as the maker of millefiori canes and millefiori paperweights during this period (1920-1934). Very little is known about Mr. Boyé, but there is enough similarity in the millefiori canes to suggest that he had access to the original molds or some of the original millefiori canes from the classic period. He later trained another glassworker, Georges Brocard, to make open concentric paperweights in 1946. Armed with this knowledge, Brocard was influential in the revival of paperweight making at Baccarat in the 1950s. Another glassworker, Louis Idoux (1882-1941), is recorded as making the Baccarat pansy paperweights during the 1920-1934 period. You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights in the book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. Miniature Size: Just under 2" diameter by 1 3/8"
high. The bottom is ground concave.. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$1,250 postage paid in the US. US sales only for this paperweight. Delivery will require a signature. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5284 | Antique Clichy Miniature Faceted
Concentric Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Rose.
circa 1845-1860. This antique Clichy concentric millefiori
paperweight has a two concentric rings of complex millefiori around
a central blue pastry mold cane. There is a wonderful green
and pink Clichy rose in the outer ring. There are 18 canes in
all, all placed on an upset muslin or lace ground. The canes
are intricate and very colorful. See the close-up picture for
more detail. This paperweight has a complex faceting with a
top facet, five side facets and an additional five lower
facets. A fantastic miniature paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Miniature Size: Just over 2" diameter by 1 3/8"
high. The base is ground slightly concave. This
paperweight is faceted with a top facet, five side facets, and
five more lower side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD.
Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5125 | Large Antique Dorflinger Paneled
Lily-Style Paperweight. circa 1895-1920. This
paperweight has
four sections or panels, each with a center stripe of pink or
green flanked on both sides with a white border. The panels
are pleated with a large bubble and second smaller bubble between
each pleat. There is also a larger center bubble. The
pleats are created
by pushing the top of the design down with a crimp. When
viewed from the bottom, the paperweight gives the the appearance
of an umbrella with four white panels and four ribs. The
paperweight is confirmed to have been made at Dorflinger
Glass. An
interesting paperweight worthy of further study. This style of paperweight is referred to as a lily paperweight. It is similar to the pleated umbrella-style paperweights and paperweight inkwells made at Whitall Tatum in Millville, NJ (circa 1900-1912). The Millville umbrella designs usually have more pleats, typically eight, but four paneled examples also exist. The umbrella shaped weights were originally modeled to resemble the wild tiger lily of Southern New Jersey. Special thanks to a Dorflinger collector who confirmed the Dorflinger attribution and drew my attention to a group of similar paperweights found in the Dorflinger Glass Museum in White Mills, PA. C. Dorflinger & Sons Glass Company was founded by Christian Dorflinger in White Mills, PA in 1865. Paperweight stoppers for bottles were made by Nicholas and Francois Lutz at Dorflinger during the period 1866-1870. Lily style paperweights and other large paperweights, some with foil lettering and dates, were made by other glass workers at Dorflinger from 1895 to 1920. Recent research at the Dorflinger Glass Museum has located a catalog including references to paperweights. Most of the credit for the later styles of paperweights has been given to Tobias N. Hagberg and Ernst Von Dohln, although other Dorflinger workers also tried their hand. None of the paperweights is dated later than 1915. Christian Dorflinger died in 1915 and the business closed in 1921. Large Size : 3 1/4” diameter by 2 1/2" high.
The base is ground slightly concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight$195 postage paid in the US. Description updated 5/24/2020. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2958 | Antique Baccarat Roundels or Circlets
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1845-1860. Antique
Baccarat millefiori paperweight with a red, white, and blue garland
pattern consisting of seven circles of millefiori canes, each with a
single complex cane in the center. Six of the roundels are
arranged in a a circle around the center roundel. The design
is placed over a clear ground. The paperweight is unsigned but
has several unique Baccarat canes and I guarantee that this is a
genuine Baccarat millefiori paperweight from the classic period
1845-1860. A desirable addition to any collection of antique
paperweights. Great color. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
In 1952, Paul Jokelson approached Baccarat
with the idea of making sulphide paperweights again. In
1953 Baccarat resumed paperweight production with a series of
sulphide paperweights the first of which were the unsuccessful
Eisenhower sulphide followed by the Queen Elizabeth coronation
sulphide. Millefiori paperweight production was resumed in
1957 and lampwork paperweights were re-introduced in the early
1970s. Baccarat stopped making this type of fine glass
paperweights in 2002. You can read more about the Baccarat
paperweights in the book Baccarat
Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by
Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in
general, such as The
Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister
or World Paperweights by Robert
Hall. Size: 2 5/8" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The
bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$895 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2178 | Antique St. Mandé Miniature Closepack
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1841 - 1857. This is
an antique St. Mandé closepack millefiori paperweight. I'm
describing this as a closepack because the canes are all upright,
not tipped over. However there are some open areas.
There are many different and interesting canes in this
paperweight. The bright yellow cane is something rarely found
except in St. Mandé paperweights. The glass has a very slight
grayish tint and has a lot of bubbles. The design is set high
in the dome. And there is a a characteristic groove low down
on the side. The condition is very good to excellent with a
few scuffed areas on the dome, but there is plenty of glass and it
could be restored . I wouldn't do so because polishing might
remove the St. Mandé characteristic groove on the side. A rare
example for the advanced collector. Very little is known about the St. Mandé factory. This was a small one pot glass factory in the village of St. Mandé, France. Operated by Joseph Nocus, the factory was in operation from 1841 to 1857. During that period the factory won several awards and mentions in trade journals. When signed, the weights have an StM signature cane. Paul Hollister incorrectly referred to the factory as St. Maude in his Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights, but George Kulles persisted and eventually identified the correct name in 1991. There is a section on St. Mandé in the Kulles book Identifying Antique Paperweights - The Less Familiar. Since then additional documentation and evidence has been uncovered. There have also been several articles on St. Mandé in the PCA Annual Bulletins, notably in 1991, 1999, and newer issues. Originally it was estimated that only a few hundred St. Mandé paperweights exist, but in recent years many more have been correctly identified. Very Small Size: Just over 1 7/8" diameter by just
under 1 1/2" high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3469 | Vintage Magnum Arculus Concentric
Paperweight Inkwell with false date 1848 - with damage.
circa 1920-1941. This magnificent inkwell has a matching
concentric pattern in both the base and the top. The base has
a false date "1848" in the second ring from the outside. The
base has six concentric millefiori rings (pink, white, green, blue,
white, pink) around a central millefiori cane. The stopper top
has four concentric rings (pink, white, green, blue) also around a
central cane. There is a slight foot at the base of the
bottle. Unfortunately, this inkwell has noticeable
repair. The flared portion of the neck was broken and repaired
and there is a large chip in the stopper. There is also a
piece of black debris inside the well of the inkwell. Offered
at a considerable discount. This was made by Arculus in
Birmingham, England or by its successor firm Walsh-Walsh. See
the history of Arculus and Walsh-Walsh below. It displays well
as shown in the pictures. For a long time, collectors believed that English paperweights dated 1848 were made by Whitefriars. The dates, however, are false dates and have been traced to production at Arculus and Walsh-Walsh in the 1920s and 1930s. Most paperweights referred to as old Whitefriars or antique Whitefriars were, in fact, made by other factories such as Richardson, Arculus, Walsh-Walsh, or one of the unidentified Old English factories. When the maker can not be identified, it is best to call them just Old English paperweights. Arculus was founded as R.W. Winfield
of Birmingham, England in 1864. It was renamed Alfred
Arculus & Company in 1875. They produced millefiori
paperweights and other glassware in Birmingham from around 1920
to about 1941. During that period, Thomas and Noel Arculus
left the company and produced similar items in their own
factory. The Arculus firm was acquired by Walsh-Walsh in
1931. They continued to operate in the Arculus location
until 1941 when it was destroyed by the Germans. In 1850, the firm of John Walsh-Walsh, Ltd. took over a glasswork business that dated from 1801. To expand, they acquired Arculus in 1931and continued to operate it at the original Arculus location until 1941. The Walsh-Walsh company then continued to operate at another location until 1951 when they went out of business. Size: 4 3/16" diameter by 5 3/4" high. Stopper
is 2 5/16" diameter. The base is ground concave. Very
heavy, this weighs just under four pounds, five pounds when
packaged. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3454 | Antique Clichy Sulphide Paperweight of
Victoria and Albert. circa 1851. Clichy Sulphide
paperweight featuring Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and Prince Albert
(1819-1861). The sulphide is fairly high in the dome of the
paperweight and is over a clear ground. It is believed that
this paperweight may have been made for the 1851 Great Exhibition at
the Crystal Palace in London. Prince Albert conceived of the
exhibition which was considered the first world's fair. The
exhibition was intended to advance the arts and sciences. A
wonderful example.
Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph due to the clear glass and white sulphide. Some of the pictures look darker but you can rest assured that the glass is clear crystal, although some striations (sugaring) are visible. Sulphides are cast objects (animals,
flowers, people) made of a ceramic material that has properties
similar to the surrounding glass. They are normally white,
but are also sometimes colored or even painted. The
objects are cast in a mold that copied or made directly from a
medallion, coin or sculpture. The finest French sulphides
are cast in a mold made by a skilled artist. Sometimes a
sulphide will have a silvery appearance due to a thin layer of
trapped bubbles between the glass and the sulphide itself. The Clichy
factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837.
Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave
the factory its best known name. They stayed in
operation until about the 1870s. Size: Just over 2 1/2" diameter by 1 13/16"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5127 | Antique Baccarat Type III Pansy
Paperweight with Star Cut Base. circa
1900-1920. Baccarat Pansy paperweight with leaves and
stem. The base is finished with a Baccarat star cut. It
is probably from Baccarat's Dupont period. This style of pansy
is called a type III pansy. It consists of two large velvet
purple petals above over three lower petals. The lower petals
are amber yellow over a white base which can be seen from the
back. Each lower petal has a purple tip and three dark lines
radiating from the central cane consisting of star canes with a red
whorl center. A wonderful paperweight in great shape.
Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights in the book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. Size: Just over 2 1/4" diameter by 1 1/2"
high. The bottom is ground slightly concave and finished
with a Baccarat star cut base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $495 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5283 | Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric
Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Rose. circa
1845-1860. This antique Clichy spaced concentric millefiori
paperweight has a two concentric rings of complex millefiori around
a central red pastry mold cane. There is a wonderful large
green and pink Clichy rose in the inner ring. There are 19
canes in all, all placed on an upset muslin or lace ground.
The canes are intricate and very colorful. See the close-up
picture for more detail. A especially nice antique Clichy
paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Small Size: 2 1/4" diameter by just over 1 5/8"
high. The base is ground slightly concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$995 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. Delivery will require a signature.
Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2528 | Antique Belgian or Bohemian Doorknob with
Miniature Concentric Millefiori Paperweight Handle. circa
1880-1910. This is a wonderful antique doorknob with a
concentric millefiori paperweight handle. The handle has
bright colors on a clear ground. It has two concentric circles
of canes around a complex center cane. The outer ring
alternates between larger complex blue and white canes and simpler
red and white canes. One red cane is missing. The inner
ring consists of six large identical white, pink, and yellow complex
canes. There is a complex green, pink, and yellow center
cane. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. It has
similarities to a group of paperweights believed to have originated
at an unidentified glass factory in Belgium, Northern Europe, or
even Bohemia. The hardware portion is in good condition with a
fixed spindle. The design is well centered and a wonder to
study. This paperweight has a strong similarity to a group of paperweights and doorknobs that are believed to have originated at an unidentified glass factory in Belgium or Northern Europe. Bohemian Glass generally refers to the glass made in the regions that form the border area between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Most of these areas are now parts of the western Czech Republic. Size: The knob is 1 13/16" diameter by 2 3/16" long
including the brass hardware, but not the spindle. With the
spindle, it is 4 13/16" long. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$235 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1297 | Antique Green and White Jasper Ground
Paperweight. circa 1845-1890. This is
an unusual antique jasper ground paperweight - unusual in that there
is no other motif present. Normally we find a jasper ground
paperweight with a flower or a millefiori pattern. It could be
a practice piece made by a glass worker learning how to create a
jasper ground, or it could be that the flower or design wasn't ready
when it needed to be picked up. I don't know which factory
made it. Among antique American paperweight makers, both the
New England Glass Company and the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company
made floral paperweights with jasper grounds. In France, St.
Louis made jasper ground paperweights during the classic period
(1845 - 1860). Other factories probably did as well. So
the origin remains a mystery, but I think it is likely to have been
made at the New England Glass Company (NEGC). A colorful
example that you will keep on your desk and use as - a paperweight. Large Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The base
is ground concave with a pontil scar remaining. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4656 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Plymouth Rock Pressed Glass Paperweight. circa 1876 and
later. This is one of the best known pressed designs made at
the New England Glass Company. It was made for the Providence
Inkstand Company and was one of the souvenir paperweights of the
1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. It is a faithful
representation of the actual Plymouth Rock right down to the crack
that supposedly happened during an attempt to move the rock.
It has the year "1620" molded in the top of the rock. Around
the outer edge of the base, the history of Mary Chilton is molded in
tiny letters "MARY CHILTON WAS THE FIRST TO LAND UPON THE ROCK. DEC.
21, 1620. PILGRIM ROCK TRADE MARK PROVIDENCE INKSTAND CO.
1876". Around edge of underside, molded in larger letters in
two rows of text "A ROCK IN THE WILDERNESS WELCOMED OUR SIRES / FROM
BONDAGE FAR OVER THE DARK ROLLING SEA, / ON THAT HOLY ALTAR THEY
KINDLED THE FIRES / JEHOVAH! WHICH GLOW IN OUR BOSOMS FOR
THEE". All of this writing is extremely hard to read, but with
a bright light and some magnification it is possible. Some of
the letters are more faint and others are more crisply molded.
An identical paperweight is in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum
in NY (Accession Number 40.230). An amazing feat to show off
the technical ability of the American glass industry. A
wonderful example.
Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph
due to the clear glass pressed glass. The texture ends up
looking metallic. Some of the pictures look darker and dirty
but you can rest assured that the glass is clear crystal and
clean. Note: This paperweight was made in several
variations and also in two sizes, this one (3 3/8" wide) and a
larger one (4" wide). A rarer version was pressed in blue
glass. Versions exist with "1620" in gold lettering.
Metal versions also exist. A local souvenir store in
Plymouth, MA continued to offer at least one variation until
the 1920s or later, it is possible that some of the paperweights
on the market are later production made from the original
molds. There are also variations in the wording from one
variation to another. The text on the larger version is
longer. Also, at least one author claims this paperweight
was made by the Providence Inkstand Company using a die made by
Gillinder Brothers. The expert on NEGC, John Hawley, states
it was made by NEGC for the Providence Inkstand Company. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. Size: 3 3/8" wide by 2 5/16" deep by 1 7/16"
high. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1435 | Antique St. Mandé Miniature Millefiori Scramble
Paperweight. circa 1841-1857. This is an
antique St. Mandé millefiori scramble or end of day
paperweight. There are many different and interesting
millefiori canes in this paperweight, including the dark red and
white rose considered unique to St. Mandé. The glass has a
very slight grayish tint and, some bubbles, and also some black
debris in it. Good condition for its age. There are two
small circular impact marks. One is small (1/8") and on the
dome (see picture). The other is low on the side and much
smaller. There is also considerable wear on the base and on
the sides near the base and some scratches on the dome. There
is sufficient glass and it could be restored. A rare example
for the advanced collector. Very little is known about the St. Mandé factory. This was a small one pot glass factory in the village of St. Mandé, France. Operated by Joseph Nocus, the factory was in operation from 1841 to 1857. During that period the factory won several awards and mentions in trade journals. When signed, the weights have an StM signature cane. Paul Hollister incorrectly referred to the factory as St. Maude in his Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights, but George Kulles persisted and eventually identified the correct name in 1991. There is a section on St. Mandé in the Kulles book Identifying Antique Paperweights - The Less Familiar. Since then additional documentation and evidence has been uncovered. There have also been several articles on St. Mandé in the PCA Annual Bulletins, notably in 1991, 1999, and newer issues. Originally it was estimated that only a few hundred St. Mandé paperweights exist, but in recent years many more have been correctly identified. Size: Just under 2 1/16" diameter by just under 1
5/16" high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4486 | Antique Pairpoint Bubble Paperweight
Doorknob on Marble Stand. Circa 1890-1930. This
is an antique Pairpoint bubble doorknob mounted on a marble veneered
stand. It has the brass mounting hardware and setscrew.
The bubble pattern is made up of carefully placed concentric rings
of controlled bubbles with a slight spiral in the arrangement.
There is a single bubble in the center, nine bubbles in the first
ring, 18 bubbles in the next ring, and increasing numbers in each
subsequent ring until the pattern reverses. The doorknob is
firmly fastened to the stand and won't come off, even if the
setscrew is removed. The base of the stand is covered with
felt. This type of doorknob was once a common fixture in New
England homes built up until about 1930. There were other
variations offered, including plain glass knobs. Note on marble veneered stand: The marble stand is heavy, but it is not solid marble. It appears to be a veneer and you can see this by the way the faces come together at the edges. Note on provenance: This doorknob came from an old Boston family collection that also had many other pieces of Pairpoint glass. Pairpoint Glass has a long history extending back to its earliest origins with Mount Washington Glass in 1837. Owners and locations changed a number of times and the name Pairpoint was first used in the 1890s. The original Pairpoint companies were located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1938, it was reorganized as Gunderson Glass Works by owner Robert Gunderson and later renamed the Gunderson - Pairpoint Glass Works in 1952. The name was acquired by Robert Bryden and the company moved briefly to East Wareham, MA in 1957 where it operated as the Pairpoint Glass Company. They leased production facilities in Spain. The last New Bedford factory burned down in 1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1970. It continues to operate at that location today (2022) although under new owners. Size: 2 1/8" diameter by 4 3/16" high including the
stand. The stand is 3" by 3" by 1 1/4". The bottom of
the stand is covered with felt. It weighs 30 ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3051 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight on Spiral Latticino
Ground. circa 1860 - 1888. This is an antique New
England Glass Company (NEGC) concentric millefiori paperweight on a
spiral latticinio ground. There are two rings of complex canes
around a larger complex millefiori center cane. The inner ring
consists of nine identical white and green canes. The outer
ring consists of eight blue, red, and white complex canes. The
spiral latticinio ground is almost perfect, no very few bubbles and
no messes. The canes float nicely above the ground and they
are nicely spaced, although not perfectly. The paperweight
appears to have been restored leaving some wear on the base.
Great color. An excellent example of a NEGC concentric
millefiori paperweight. Note on execution: It is rare to find a NEGC millefiori design with a perfect execution. Often there are tipped canes, missing canes, uneven spacing, or worse. The spiral latticinio grounds often have bubbles and are twisted or have other flaws. The paperweight shown here is relatively free of major flaws. Note: The type of ground in this paperweight has been given different names by different authors, including double latticinio, spiral latticinio, and spiral filigree. Some authors insist that despite the extensive usage, there is no such word as latticinio and revert to latticino or filigree. The literature is full of variations, including authors who choose to distinguish between thick and thin latticinio. I have wavered in my choice between the first two choices, double latticinio and spiral latticinio. More importantly, in 1986, paperweight collector Jerry Gard observed that spiral latticinio made in 19th century American factories contain 32 rods while those made in 19th century French factories contain 36 rods. New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by Hawley, The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies. Large Size: 2 9/16” diameter by 1 7/16" high.
The bottom is ground concave. The profile is relatively
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image |
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Revised 2/19/2023 IE9