Bohemian Paperweights for Sale
The paperweights on this page are all various Bohemian factories. These factories were made in the glass making regions that are today in the border area between the Czech Republic and Poland. There is documentation to suggest that some of these factories engaged in the manufacture of millefiori as early as 1833. In the past, paperweight collectors identified paperweights from this region as simply Bohemian. More correctly, the glassworks were located in Prussia, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Paperweights of this type are becoming more in demand as collectors find out more about the various German and Bohemian factories.
For more information, you can read about paperweights from Germany and Bohemia in the book by von Brackel Paperweights: Historicism - Art Nouveau - Art Deco - 1842 to today and in the book by Marek Kordasiewicz Glass Paperweights: The Heritage of the 19th Century Riesengebirge and Isergebirge Glassworks.For some great references on paperweights, check out my list of paperweight books for sale.
If you would like to purchase
any of these paperweights, e-mail me at: aport@paperweights.com
5684 | Antique Magnum Belgian or Bohemian Frit
Butterfly Paperweight. circa 1880-1910.
This is a wonderful antique frit butterfly
paperweight. The large blue butterfly with colorful spots
floats above a multicolored frit ground. The maker of this
paperweight is unknown. It was likely made in an
unidentified glass factory in Belgium, Bohemia or Northern Europe. Note: At first I thought this is a lampwork butterfly but it is almost completely flat and sits on a layer of "dirty" glass. What looks like surface damage in the profile view is actually dirt on the surface of the inner layer of glass that the butterfly is resting on - the clear layer used to pick up the butterfly. Frit refers to the powdered glass used to make the design. The design is set up in frit in a metal die and then picked up with a gather of clear color. The butterfly is almost completely flat with only the larger pieces of colored glass projecting below the plane of the butterfly. 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. Very large size: 3 7/16" diameter by 2 5/16"
high. The base is ground flat. 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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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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5087 | Vintage Thuringia Lauscha Bohemia
Paperweight with Name Plaque "Karl Laur". Circa
1920-1939. Colorful vintage paperweight with a central name
plaque over a two layer frit ground. There are four icepick
flowers each with a bubble in the center. The name on the
plaque is Karl Laur. An interesting example of a name weight
that is popular with many some collectors. The maker of this paperweight is unknown, except that it is believed to originate either in Thuringia (now part of Germany) or 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 Thuringia. Some examples can be found in the book by von Brackel, Paperweights: Historicism - Art Nouveau - Art Deco - 1842 to Today See pages 220-221 in particular figure 510. Both paperweights in this figure may have been decorated by the same hand as this paperweight. Size: 2 1/3" diameter by 1 11/16" high. The base
is ground flat. There is a small circular remainder of the
pontil mark in the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$75 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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on the picture to see a larger image ![]() |
1090 | Czech / Bohemian Morning Glories Trumpet
Flower Paperweight. c.1900-1930. Trumpet
flower paperweight with five blossoms. There is one large
center flower and four smaller ones under it. There is a
planned bubble in the center of each flower. The flowers are
pushed down to a green frit flower pot shaped ground. The
glass is heavy crystal.
This style is also called an icepick flower because of the sharp tool used to push each flower down to the base. In this case the tool is pushed through a multi-colored glass slice. Some authors call these morning glory flowers. Von Brackel discusses this style in his book He lists many variations on pages 106 to 149 with a wide range of values up to $300 and more. On pages 278 & 279 he describes the process used to make a trumpet flower paperweight. Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 3 5/16" 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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Colorful Miniature Antique Bohemian
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1880-1920. Colorful small antique Bohemian millefiori
paperweight with a concentric design of two rings of complex
multi-colored millefiori around a central blue and white complex
millefiori cane. The outer ring alternates between several
different complex canes, primarily green and white with some red
and blue mixed in. The inner ring consists of identical
canes made up of red and white elements with a touch of other
colors. Wonderful complex canes and a nice balance of
colors. Note: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the light. There is a debate as to where this paperweight was made. Some paperweight experts, including myself, believe that this paperweight was made by an unknown European maker, probably in the region along the Czech - German border, hence the label Bohemian. Others believe that the paperweight is of Chinese origin because the cane structure shares some similarities to known early 1930’s Chinese millefiori. The glass is good quality crystal and and the bottom finish is consistent other Bohemian paperweights. Very Small Size: Just over 1 7/8" diameter by just
over 7/8" high. The bottom is ground flat. SOLD.
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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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on the picture to see a larger image![]() |
2044 | Antique Thuringia or Silesia
Bohemia Miniature Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. Circa
1870 - 1940. Colorful antique concentric paperweight with
millefiori canes arranged in two rings of alternating canes around
a center cane. The design is placed over a multi-colored
frit ground. This paperweight is in unusually good condition
but does have a 1/8" chip on the top and tiny chips around the
base. It has many small bubbles as shown in the
pictures. 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. The glass
has a gray tint. A nice example with great color. 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 Peter von Brackel, Paperweights: Historicism - Art Nouveau - Art Deco - 1842 to Today (see examples on page 94-95). Miniature Size: Just over 1 7/8" diameter by just
over 1 5/8" high. The top has a flattened profile.
The base is ground flat. The glass is grayish. 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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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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1390 | Antique Bohemian Enameled
Paperweight "Bund der Deutschen in Böhmen 1894". circa
1900. This unusual paperweight is made of clear glass
enameled on top with a shield displaying German colors, oak
leaves, and a banner "Bund
der Deutschen in Böhmen 1894" (League of Germans in Bohemia
1894). There is also a worn gold edge decoration
visible in the larger picture. The members of the league
were people of German heritage living in Western Bohemia. An
organization of the same name exists today. There may be
more than one such organization as I found images with an 1894
date and others with an 1896 date. I believe the paperweight
was decorated locally in Western Bohemia using glass produced
nearby. 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. Size: 2 9/16" diameter by 1 3/16" high. The base
is ground flat but not entirely smooth. The glass is
clear. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 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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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.
The techniques used in this type of paperweight are attributed to the pioneering work with colored stains (sometimes incorrectly called flash overlays) by Friedrich Egermann (1774-1864) in North Bohemia. Egermann discovered methods of applying metallic salts to glass to produce a colored stain. Silver salts would produce a yellow stain, copper salts would produce a ruby stain, etc. The application of this colored layer enabled many Bohemian (and also European) glass factories to engrave a variety of images as souvenirs of the prominent buildings and spas throughout Europe. The style became known as spa paperweights. Although the technique was enabled by Egermann's discoveries, it is not possible to attribute this paperweight to a specific factory, engraver, or country. There is an excellent article this subject with many examples in the 2016 Annual Bulletin of the Paperweight Collectors Association "19th Century Engraved Bohemian Paperweights: Spas and Other Local Views" by Jim and Nancy Barton. 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: 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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5310 | Czech / Bohemian Red White and Blue
Morning Glories Trumpet Flowers Paperweight with
Faceting. circa 1880-1925. Red white and
blue trumpet flowers paperweight with five blossoms. There
is one large center flower and four smaller ones under it.
There is a planned bubble in the center of each flower. The
flowers are pushed down to a green frit flower pot shaped
ground. There are 21 finger facets around the edge of the
base. The glass is heavy and slightly yellow.
This style is also called an icepick flower because of the sharp tool used to push each flower down to the base. In this case the tool is pushed through a multi-colored glass slice. Some authors call these morning glory flowers. Von Brackel discusses this style in his book He lists many variations on pages 106 to 149 with a wide range of values up to $300 and more. On pages 278 & 279 he describes the process used to make a trumpet flower paperweight. Size: 2 15/16" diameter by 2 13/16" high.
The bottom is ground flat. There are 21 finger facets
around the edge of the base. 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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on the picture to see a larger image![]() |
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Revised 4/27/2022 IE