New Additions - Paperweights
for Sale
5512 | Baccarat 1975 Gridel Series Millefiori
Black Monkey Limited Edition Paperweight. dated
1975. This modern millefiori paperweight features a large
central black monkey silhouette on a white background surrounded by
two concentric rings of picture canes (seventeen Gridel canes plus a
signature / date cane). The design is placed over a green
carpet ground. The paperweight is signed in the design with
Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1975". It also has an
acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the year (1975) and
edition number (262). This is the most popular of the Gridel
series paperweight. This design was released in 1975 in a limited edition of 350 pieces. This is number 262 in that series. There is a signature cane "B 1975" shown in the pictures. The bottom has the acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1975) and the number (262). In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other figures included in the design. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. 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 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: 3 1/8" diameter by just under 2 1/4"
high. The base is polished flat with an
indent for the edition number. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$695 postage paid in the US. Added 5/15/2022 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5911 | Perthshire PP2 Medium Paneled Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 1978 - 2002. This is a
medium patterned millefiori paperweight with a center "P" signature
cane surrounded by two rings of colorful millefiori and then 12
short radial twists. Each panel has a 1-1-2-2 pattern of
millefiori. The ground is an opaque very dark purple (almost
black). This version of the PP2 has a signature cane and the
base is hollow ground, dating it to 1978 or later. It also has
a worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF
SCOTLAND" on the base. An extra nice example with crisp setup
and bright colors. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Medium Size: 2 1/2" diameter by 1 7/8" high. The
base is hollow ground (ground concave). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$115 postage paid in the US. Added 5/14/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5358 | Ronald E. Hansen Bird on a Branch
Paperweight. circa 1960 - 1970. This
paperweight features a three dimensional brown and yellow bird on a
branch. The branch has four green leaves. The design is
set over a transparent blue ground. This paperweight is signed
on the base "Ronald E. Hansen". There are many tiny bubbles in
the glass. An important paperweight from this early
paperweight maker.
While this paperweight may seem unsophisticated by today's standards, it is the work of an important early paperweight maker. This example has the full signature of Ronald E. Hansen. According to Andrew Dohan in the Dictionary of Paperweight Signature Canes, Ronald Hansen used his full signature only on his best pieces. Ronald E. Hansen was born in Virginia, Minnesota in 1910. He was first exposed to glass lampwork as a child when he was befriended by Bohemian glassworkers in a "hobo village" making glass ships. He later worked as the director of the Neon Tube School in Detroit, Michigan. With this exposure, he was aware of the artistic and technical aspects of glassworking. He established his own studio in Mackinaw City, Michigan, mixed his own colors and glass, and created a variety of small glass paperweights, most of which are 2 1/2" in diameter. He made paperweights from the late 1950s to 1971. He was one of a number of glass artists in this paperweight making family. His nephew, Eric Hansen, continues the art today. You can read more about Ronald E. Hansen in the book American Glass Paperweights and their makers by Jean Melvin (1970 Revised edition) or the article by Nancy Alfano in the 2004 PCA Bulletin. Size: 2 7/16" diameter by 2" high. The base is
polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$135 postage paid in the US. Added 5/13/2022 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image |
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5374 | Large Pairpoint Faceted Red Rose
Paperweight. circa 1970-1980. This paperweight
features a large red crimp rose made at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore,
Massachusetts. The
rose has 13 petals with a 4+4+3+2 pattern. There are also
eight variegated green leaves, four large and four skinny.
The design is placed over a semi-transparent dark blue ground.
It is faceted with one large top facet plus five smaller side
facets. The glass has a green tinge. The paperweight is
unsigned. It
is possible that this rose paperweight was made by Robbie Mason or
one of the other glass artists who apprenticed with him. A
wonderful example of a modern Pairpoint rose paperweight. Note on condition: This paperweight has a faint 3/16" circular impact mark and a faint 3/16" vertical scratch on the side near the top facet. There is some wear on the base. I found no other damage. There are also small bubbles and a couple of white flecks in the glass from when it was made. I believe it dates from the early period in Sagamore when they sometimes had white "stones" in the glass thrown off by the furnace pots. 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 old New Bedford factory burned down in
1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved
Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1969. Attempts
were made to resume glassmaking in New Bedford for five years
(1977-1982), but this was not successful. Bryden retired
in September 1988. Since then, the Pairpoint Glass Company
has changed owners again. It continues to operate at that
location today
(2022) although under new owners. Robert (Robbie) C. Mason (1935-2020) started his glass career in 1950 as an apprentice with Edinburgh Crystal, Scotland (part of the Thomas Webb and Sons). With exception of three years in the Army (1960-1963), he continued to gain seniority and expertise as a glass maker. In 1968, Thomas Bryden advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News for experienced glass workers emphasizing the need for hand made experience. Robbie Mason decided to take a chance on a new employer and joined Pairpoint in 1969. With his experience, he became a gaffer by 1971. He stayed at Pairpoint as a master glassblower until he retired in 2005. A number of well known glass artists apprenticed with him. He retired in 2005 and passed away from complications of COVID-19 in April 2020. Large Size: 2 13/16" diameter by 2 1/4" high.
The bottom is ground concave in the center. It is faceted with one
top facet and five side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 5/12/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5366 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Millefiori Scramble Paperweight with Rabbits - Bruised. 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 and other glass
bits. There are at least two different rabbit canes, one
visible from the front and the other visible from the side and the
back. I think there might be a few more only partially
visible. The paperweight does, however, have two circular
impact marks or bruises (one large) plus the usual scratches found
in a paperweight of this age. Be sure to review the
pictures. You will enjoy studying the variety of millefiori
canes in it visible from both the top and the base. 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: 2 5/8 diameter by 1 13/16 high. The
base is ground concave with a scar remaining from the pontil. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 5/11/2022 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. 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. Added 5/10/2022 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5373 | Baccarat 1972 Gridel Series Squirrel
Concentric Millefiori Limited Edition Paperweight. dated
1972. This modern close concentric millefiori paperweight
features a large white squirrel silhouette on a black background in
the center surrounded by five rings of millefiori canes. One
ring contains all eighteen Gridel figures. The white ground is
a made up of latticinio twists. The paperweight is signed with
Baccarat's signature cane "B 1972" in the fourth ring from the
center. It also has two copies of the acid etched Baccarat
mark on the base along with the year (1972) and edition number
(336). A beautiful paperweight with warm colors. Note on condition: The dome of this paperweight is in excellent condition. I found only one tiny pinprick on the side right next to the base. However the base has more than a normal amount of wear / scratches. This wear is confined to the base. This design was released in 1971 and continued into 1972 in a limited edition of 1,200 pieces. This is number 336 in that series. There is a signature cane "B 1972" shown in the pictures. The base has two copies of the acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1972) and the edition number (336). In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other seventeen Gridel figures included in the design. Some designs include all eighteen Gridel canes in smaller canes. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. 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. Very large size: Just under 3 1/8" diameter by just
over 2 1/8" high. The base is polished
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 5/10/2022 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5362 | Robert Banford Blue Clematis with
Buds and Dragonfly Paperweight. circa 1980. This
compound paperweight features a wonderful large dragonfly hovering
above a striped blue clematis. The clematis has a yellow
center and two buds in various states of opening. There are
many green leaves and a stem. The design is set in clear
crystal with an opaque white ground at the base of the
paperweight. The paperweight is compound with the two levels
above the ground layer. The flower floats in the middle layer
and the dragonfly hovers above the flower. The paperweight is
signed with Bob Banford's B signature cane at the tip of the
stem. A very desirable addition to any collection of
contemporary American paperweights. Note: The bright light used to take the pictures exaggerate the refractive lines where the layers of glass are joined. This is normal in compound paperweights that use high quality glass. Note 2: There is a 3/16" flaw near the base of this of the paperweight. I'm not sure what caused this. It is not a chip or crack. Robert Banford worked in Hammonton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his father, Ray Banford. Bob continued to make paperweights until 2006. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights, but it is sometimes possible to get an idea of when a paperweight was made by the progression of styles and the type of glass used. Bob Banford used a signature cane with a red "B" and a blue surround. Ray Banford used a different signature cane with a black B. Ray passed away in 2003.
Large size: 2 3/4" diameter by just over 2 5/16"
high. The white base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$345 postage paid in the US. Added 5/9/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5615 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1982B Limited
Edition Flamingo Paperweight with Certificate.
dated 1982. This paperweight features a pink flamingo standing
on one leg in a blue pond with two water lilies and two cat
tails. There is a translucent blue and green ground. The
paperweight has a single top facet. It is signed with a
complex "P 1982" signature cane in the center of the base. It
also has its original worn Perthshire
paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base
and comes with its original (somewhat wrinkled) certificate
stating that this is edition number 26 in a limited edition of 300
paperweights (of which only 184 were made). An
unusual design from Perthshire..
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1982. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1982, designated A through H. This design is designated 1982B. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Just under 2 5/8" diameter by 1 11/16"
high. The base is ground concave. Faceted with one
large top facet. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 5/8/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5949 | Large Ed Rithner
Multi-Colored Candy Cane Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1940-1970. A wonderful example of a relatively rare style of
paperweight. The millefiori canes are striped lengthwise and
are placed over a transparent turquoise ground. The
canes are various colors of red, blue, green, and white. A classic
Rithner design. Ed Rithner worked in Wellsburg, West Virginia from 1908 to the 1970s or later. You can read about Ed Rithner in Jean Melvin's book on American Glass Paperweights and their Makers . All of Rithner's weights are unsigned. Large Size: Just under 3 1/16" diameter by 1 7/8"
high. The base is fire finished and then ground to a matte
finish in the center to remove the pontil mark. The profile is
relatively flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$110 postage paid in the US. Added 5/8/2022 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5602 | Large Perthshire PP62 Tomato
Red Patterned Millefiori Paperweight. Circa 1983-2002.
This is a patterned millefiori paperweight with a center "P"
signature cane surrounded by two rings of dark blue canes and one
ring of lime green canes and then 15 short multicolored twist
canes. The ends of the twists are separated by single green
millefiori canes. There is an outer ring of tightly packed
lime green canes. The ground is an opaque tomato red.
This design was made from 1983 to 2002. A very dramatic
design. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large Size: Just under 2 15/16" 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 pictureSOLD. Added 5/7/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2985 | Modern Baccarat Enamel Decorated Egg
Paperweight and Stand. circa 1950 - 1970. This
egg shaped paperweight is decorated around the middle with a gold
enamel. There is no decoration on the ends of the egg.
It comes with its own glass stand. Both the egg and the stand
are signed with an etched Baccarat logo. The egg is signed on
its lower end. The stand is signed on the bottom. The
signature on the egg itself is not clear but I show pictures of both
signatures. A fun addition to any collection of egg shaped
paperweights. Note: The pictures make it look as if there is a decoration on the top end (narrow end) of the egg. This is not the case. All of the decoration is on the middle part. 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. Size: 1 13/16" diameter by just under 2 1/2" high
without the stand. The height with the stand is
approximately 2 3/4". The glass stand is just over 1 3/16"
square by 7/16" high. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 5/6/2022. For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5639 | Large Fratelli Toso Murano Block
Shaped Millefiori Paperweight with Handle. circa
1960-1979. Colorful Fratelli Toso millefiori paperweight with
a knob or handle on top. The green inner core has a variety of
cogged millefiori canes on the surface of the green layer. A
controlled pattern of bubbles surrounds the inner core. This
paperweight has a worn Fratelli Toso silver foil label with a
conjoined "ft" and "MADE IN ITALY MURANO GLASS". The center of
the green core is hollow and the paperweight has an irregular 5/8"
by 1 1/2" hole in the base. The knob on the top is a fun
addition. The technique used to produce the inner core with millefiori canes on the surface is sometimes called a cane roll-up. The Murano firms of Fratelli Toso and Barovier & Toso produced objects with this technique. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Fratelli Toso was started in 1854 by six brothers - Angelo Toso, Giovanni Toso, Ferdinando Toso, Carlo Toso, Gregorio Toso and Liberato Toso. They were joined by Ermanno Toso in 1924 who became artistic director. The Fratelli Toso company is well known for its use of colorful murrines and millefiori, particularly during the 1950's and earlier. In 1979, the company suffered a harsh economic crisis, forcing the owners to divide it into Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso and Fratelli Toso International. In 1981, Fratelli Toso International filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors for good. Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso, led by Arnoldo Toso, continued to operate. Size: 2 9/16" square at the widest. The base
is 2 1/8" square. 4 5/8" high including the knob. The
base is polished flat with a beveled edge. The center of the green
core is hollow and the paperweight has an irregular 5/8" by 1 1/2"
hole in the base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 5/5/2022 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5662 | Caithness 1983 Colin Terris Sea
Dance Paperweight. issued in 1983. This
paperweight represents a turbulent sea, or as the certificate
states, "five silvery dancers perform amidst the swirling fronds of
the sea bed". The ground color is an orange/gold layer over a
dark green. There are five large bubbles to represent the
dancers and a few smaller bubbles, so maybe there is some literary
license taken in the description. There is also a ring of
smaller bubbles surrounding the design. And one large center
bubble. It is etched on the base "Caithness SEADANCE
Scotland". There is also an engraved registration number
H103099". It comes with its original certificate. A fun
design. The Sea Dance design is listed and designated CT-337 on page 55 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1983 by Colin Terris. It was released in an unlimited edition. The original issue price in the US was $85.00. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Large size: 3 1/16" diameter by 2 3/4" high.
The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 4/30/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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865 | Josh Simpson Miniature Inhabited Planet
Paperweight with Presentation Box and Pamphlet. dated
1998. This is a miniature inhabited planet paperweight along
with its original presentation box and small three fold
pamphlet. The basic theme of the inhabited planet series is
that a new planet has been discovered with interesting features
inviting exploration. There are
interesting multi-colored structures rising above the
surface. Some structures, possibly man made, require further
exploration. There is a blue, yellow, and green twisted
ribbon shaped spaceship investigating the terrain below.
Elsewhere on the planet you can see a trail of bubbles the
spaceship has left behind as it explored. This paperweight
is signed "JS98" on its flat
base. This planet has all sorts of terrain including
suggestions of vegetation, water, and volcanic activity. It
comes with a small pamphlet and its original presentation
box. A fun item. Josh Simpson has been making magical glass objects including paperweights for over 40 years. He has long had a fascination with space exploration and is married to Astronaut Cady Coleman. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and has his own glass studio in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. He focuses on creating objects with a range of color, form, contrast, iridescence, tessellating patterns and complexity. There is a great book Josh Simpson: Glass Artist by Andrew Chaikin. I recommend it highly. Size: 1 7/8" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
base is polished flat. The pamphlet
is 2 3/4" by 2 3/4" and unfolds to a single two sided sheet 8
1/4" by 2 3/4". For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 4/29/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5916 | Randy Strong 2003 Abstract Flat Top
Iridescent Millefiori Paperweight. dated
2003. Contemporary abstract millefiori style paperweight
created by Randy Strong of Berkeley, California. The paperweight has
an unusual shape with the a large top and small base. It has
white and pink millefiori and an outer "garland" of white latticinio
twists. Iridescent pieces of blue and copper color fill in the
empty spaces. There is also a controlled pattern of tiny
bubbles in the clear glass edge. The underlying ground color
is black. It is signed "R. Strong 2003". A fun
paperweight with great color. Note: This paperweight has an unusual shape with the flat top considerably larger then the base. It is not a typical dome shaped object. Randy Strong has studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts 1971 from the Osaka University of the Arts, Osaka, Japan. He has been blowing glass and running his own studio in Northern California for over 40 years. His work has been collected and displayed throughout the world in such places as The Corning Museum of Glass (New York), The Louvre, the Osaka Museum of Art, The San Francisco Museum of Art, The Ludwig Schaffrath Collection (Germany), The John D. Rockefeller Collection, the IBM Collection (USA) and at the American Crafts exhibitions at Baltimore, West Springfield and Rhinebeck. Size: Just under 3" diameter at the top by 1 1/4"
high. The base has a diameter of 1". The top has a
flat profile. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 4/29/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5638 | Unusual Magnum Murano Paperweight with
Floral Decoration on Blue Plaque. circa 1960 -
1980. This unusual paperweight features floral decoration
painted in enamel on a blue plaque. The painting is signed "M.
Allin". The paperweight does not have a label but I am certain
it was made on the island of Murano in Venice. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Very large size: 3 3/16" diameter by 2 3/4"
high. The base has been polished flat. This
paperweight has a high profile typical of Murano paperweights. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$69 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5934 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1981C Limited
Edition Magnum Aquarium Paperweight. dated
1981. This magnum paperweight features a colorful assortment
of sea life in a three dimensional display. There is a green
seahorse, a blue crab, a brown snail, and two fish amidst a large
pink seaweed. The design is placed on a grey sand
ground. It is signed with a complex "P 1981" signature cane in
the center of the base. It is also engraved with Peter
McDougall's "PMcD" signature on the base. It is faceted with
one large top facet and 24 side facets in three rows. This
design was made in a 1981 limited edition of 350 paperweights of
which 237 were actually made. It comes with its original
box. A very large stunning paperweight from Perthshire.
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1981. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1981, designated A through H. This design is designated 1981C. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Very large size: 3 3/8" diameter by 2 11/16"
high. The base is ground concave. Faceted with one
large top facet and 24 side facets in three rows. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1398 | Chinese Yellow Millefiori
Peacock Paperweight. circa 1945 -1970. This
is a uniquely Chinese invention. The paperweight is in the
form of an upright peacock with its bright yellow plumage (train) on
display. The feathers have red feather eyes. There is a
molded neck and head on the lower surface. Three red lines
simulate a crest. There are three types of millefiori used in
the construction: yellow feather canes, red eye canes, and a
single large mosaic cane for the body. We don't know exactly
when these first appeared but they were found in the US during the
1960s, so I believe this is a post WWII product. There is a
single flat facet on the lower edge to allow the paperweight to
stand upright. A fun collectible. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Large Size: 3 5/16" at the widest by 3 1/8" high by
just under 1 1/4" thick. The back is ground flat. The
lower edge has been ground flat to allow the peacock to rest
upright. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2012 | Chinese Miniature Orange Butterfly on
Green Ground Paperweight. circa 1940 - 1960. This
paperweight features an orange and yellow winged lampwork butterfly
flying with wings extended over a green frit ground. The
butterfly body is light green with two well defined antennae.
The green ground gives the glass a greenish tinge, but it is mostly
clear glass. This paperweight is unsigned. Note: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Miniature size: 2" diameter by 1 5/8"
high. The bottom is flat with remnants of the pontil scar. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$39 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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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. Added 4/27/2022 For more information about Bohemian paperweights, see my Bohemian
Paperweights
Web Page
.
(dl-boh-ant) |
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5930 | Perthshire Millennium Special Limited
Edition Paperweight with Box & Certificate. dated
2000. This paperweight is a special limited edition created to
celebrate the Millennium. It features a ruby and white six
petaled flower in the center set on a yellow lace ground. This
is then surrounded by a ring of ruby and white millefiori
canes. The design is further surrounded by another ring of
five picture canes and a special Millennium 2000 date cane placed on
a white lace ground. It is signed with a complex "P" signature
cane in the base. The paperweight is faceted with one large
top facet and six side facets. This paperweight was made in a
limited edition of 500 paperweights. It comes with its
original certificate stating that it is edition 004 of the 500
paperweights and comes with its original box. A beautiful
addition to any collection of Perthshire paperweights.
Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 3" diameter by just over 1 7/8"
high. The base is polished concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 4/23/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3547 | Baccarat 1987 Special Edition Double
Trefoil Millefiori Paperweight. dated 1987.
This modern millefiori paperweight features a double trefoil design
with a concentric pattern in the center. It has two interlaced
three lobe garlands of amber and burgundy. The concentric
design has green and amber circles. The design is placed on a
pale yellow lace ground. This was one of the special
paperweights featured in Baccarat's 1987 annual brochure. It
was made in this color arrangement only in 1987. It is signed
with a Baccarat's complex "B 1987" signature / date cane in the
design. This paperweight is also signed on the base with an
acid etched Baccarat mark along with the engraved year (1987) and
edition number (64). A fantastic paperweight. Note: After extensive research in the Baccarat archives, Paul Dunlop concluded that from 1986 to 1989, Baccarat made special editions of four designs using a different color scheme each year. For example, the double trefoil was made in each of the four years, but with a different color scheme each year. These designs were featured in the annual brochure for each year and were numbered sequentially. Although the edition size was not known he estimated that about 200 of each design were made. 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 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 under 3 3/16" diameter by 2 3/8"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$465 postage paid in the US. Added 4/22/2022. For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5897 | John Deacons / William Manson, Sr. 2006
Strathearn Collection Flower & Double Torsade Paperweight.
dated 2006. This limited edition paperweight consists of a
large blue and white five petaled flower surrounded by a garland of
five red roses and a second blue and green millefiori garland.
The flower has five green sepals and a yellow complex millefiori
center. The design is set on a translucent amber ground.
The paperweight is one of the Strathearn Collection collaborative
series made by John Deacons and William Manson Sr. It is
signed on the base with John Deacons' "JD 2006" signature cane and
William Manson's "WM" signature cane. The JD 2006 cane also
has a green thistle with two green shamrocks just below the
JD. It is also marked "S7 14/25". A very attractive
paperweight.
In 2006, John Deacons and William Manson collaborated to make three sets of 12 paperweight designs or 36 designs in all. They were called the Strathearn Collection. Each design was a limited edition of 25 paperweights. Each weight was signed with the signature cane of both artists. This paperweight is designated S7 14/25, meaning it is the seventh design in the Strathearn Collection and is #14 of the limited edition of 25 paperweights. John Deacons learned his craft at Strathearn Glass in Crieff, Scotland in 1967. When Perthshire was formed in 1968, he left Strathearn to move to Perthshire and worked there for 10 years before leaving in 1978 to start his own glass studio. He has produced paperweights and other glass objects under a variety of labels, including J Glass, St. Kilda, and now under his own name. The St. Kilda line was produced from 1978 or 1979 through 1987. You can read about John Deacons in the book by Hall - Scottish Paperweights. Today John works with his son Craig at his own studio. William Manson, Sr. started his glass working career at Caithness Glass at the age of 15 in the 1960s. He apprenticed with Paul Ysart. Manson left Caithness in 1971 to work at Ysart's Harland Glass and rejoined Caithness several years later in 1974. He was at Caithness on and off between 1974 and 1997 when he left for good to form his own studio William Manson Paperweights. His son, William David Manson, assisted him starting in 1992, taking it up as a career in 1996 (age 18) and continued until the market cooled in 2003-2004. He is now in the process of setting up his own studio (in 2022). For a brief period (2004-2006), William Manson, Sr. made collaborative paperweights with John Deacons. Large Size: Just under 2 7/8" diameter by 2 3/16"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$245 postage paid in the US. Added 4/22/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5550 | Drew Ebelhare Spaced Concentric Millefiori
Paperweight with Black Ground. dated 1999. This is
a Drew Ebelhare spaced concentric millefiori
paperweight. It is larger than his typical miniatures.
The design has nineteen different, mostly complex, millefiori canes
placed on a black or very dark blue ground. There is an opaque
white under coat to the ground and a lighter shade of blue peeks
through at the sides. It is signed in the center with
Ebelhare's complex "E" signature cane. In addition, it is
signed on the base "Ebelhare 10-99". There is a flaw from when
it was made, so please read the note below. A beautiful
paperweight with amazing detail. Note: There is a reflective line where the blue base and darker black ground color meet. This may be the result of adding a clear final encasement or it may be an internal fracture. You can see this in the side views - I have marked one picture with arrows to point out the flaw. I consider it a flaw and am offering this at a reduced price even though the previous owner paid $325 plus a buyers premium for this paperweight. It displays beautifully. Drew Ebelhare has been making glass paperweights since 1983, focusing on millefiori paperweights, especially miniature designs. Drew graduated from Florida State University in 1977 with a Bachelors Degree in technical theater and scene design. After graduating and working at the Alley Theater in Houston, he made a career change becoming one of the founding members of The Houston Glass Art Society. In 1981, Drew set up his first hot glass shop in Houston. He now works out a new studio in Caρon City, Colorado. His millefiori canes have evolved so he now produces his own unique style of floral millefiori canes, including Clichy style roses, camomiles, pansies, primroses, sunflowers and others. Paul Dunlop calls Drew the preeminent millefiori paperweight artist in the United States. Starting in 2009, Drew Ebelhare and Sue Fox collaborated to make wonderful paperweights featuring Sue's delicate lampwork surrounded by Drew's distinctive style of floral millefiori. Sue Fox passed away early in 2020. Size: Just over 2 5/8" diameter by 1 5/8"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$145 postage paid in the US. Added 4/21/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5568 | Brian Maytum Abstract Sea Urchin
Paperweight. dated 1983. Shimmering blue
iridescent and clear glass paperweight resembling a sea
urchin. It is constructed using blue twists pushed down in the
center. There is a large bubble in the center. It is
signed on the base "CSW373 Brian Maytum © 1983". It
is a fun paperweight from this talented glass artist.
Brian Maytum had a studio in Boulder Colorado and made glass there since the early 1980s. As of 2021, he had retired a few years ago. I have no other information on this glass artist. Size: 2
3/4" diameter by just under 2 3/4" high. The base is
polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$45 postage paid in the US. Added 4/20/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5633 | Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 1970-1974. This is a
concentric millefiori paperweight with two concentric rings of
millefiori on a transparent green ground. The millefiori canes
are pale and transparent, making their details hard to see.
There are striations in the glass. The paperweight is
unsigned, but I guarantee it was made at Pairpoint Glass in
Sagamore, Massachusetts. Note: The colors in this paperweight made it difficult to take pictures. It looks better in real life than shown in the pictures. 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 (2019) although under new owners. Size: 2 1/2" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
bottom is unfinished with the pontil scar remaining. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 4/20/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5898 | Paul Ysart Signed Millefiori Heart in
Latticinio Basket Paperweight. circa 1930s-1979.
Large paperweight with a blue millefiori heart made up of complex
canes. There is a complex "PY" signature cane in the center of
the heart. The heart is surrounded by a latticinio basket -
more accurately a basket composed of straight green cogged canes
each alternating with three white twist canes, for a total of seven
green canes and 21 twisted white canes. The canes are pulled
down to the base to form a basket. The base is fire finished
and ground concave in the center. A beautiful addition to any
collection of Scottish paperweights. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland from Spain in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. Paul Ysart (1904-1991), originally Pablo Moreno Isart, was apprenticed to his father as a glass worker at Moncrieff in 1922. He worked on the production of Monart Art Glass. Paperweights were primarily an after hours activity. Paul made his first paperweight in the early 1930s. Production was interrupted by World War II and the Monart line was not restarted until 1946. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent left Moncrieff and founded Ysart Brothers Glass. They produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955. Paul stayed at Moncrieff from until 1962, when he joined Caithness as a Training Officer. While at Caithness, he trained Peter Holmes, Colin Terris, and William Manson, among others. After he retired from Caithness in 1972, he continued to make paperweights initially under the Harland label and then the Highland Paperweights label until 1979. You can read more about Paul Ysart in the book by Colin Mahoney Masterpieces: The Paperweights of Paul Ysart. Large Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 2 1/8" high.
The base is fire finished and ground concave in the center.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/19/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5528 | Large Vetreria 3 Fiori Murano Night Sky
Millefiori Paperweight - Signed. circa 2000. This
paperweight is a clever use of a concentric design to create a sky
view with stars and the moon. There are 36 identical
transparent blue hexagonal canes each with three white stars plus a
single hexagon shaped yellow moon cane. The canes are arranged
in three concentric rings of 18, 12, and six canes plus an identical
center cane. This paperweight is from the premier Murano glass
studio Vetreria 3 Fiori. The concentric design is closely
packed with no spaces between them. The ground is clear.
The base is polished flat and is acid etched with the signature
"Vetreria 3 Fiori Murano
Ve". A wonderful paperweight from this premier glass studio. This paperweight was made at the Vetreria 3 Fiori studio on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Regarded as possibly the best millefiori paperweight maker in Murano, the studio was in operation for only five years, from about 2000 to 2005. 3 Fiori was founded by two glass workers who left ALT, another studio in Murano. ALT closed around 2002 and 3 Fiori closed a few years later. Subsequently, two of the workers at 3 Fiori opened a new studio called The Millefiori Factory but it appears that that has also closed. Special thanks to two collectors in the UK who filled in some of the details on this wonderful but short lived studio. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Large Size: 2 13/16" diameter by 1 15/16"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$175 postage paid in the US. Added 4/19/2022 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5538 | Peter McDougall (PMcD) Miniature Crown
Paperweight with Flower on Top. Attractive miniature
crown paperweight with a wonderful lilac colored five petal flower
on top. The flower has a millefiori cane in the center.
The paperweight is formed from 20 twist canes with alternating
colors, 10 white twist canes and 10 multi-colored twists made
from turquoise, yellow, and white stringers. These twist canes
are pulled down to the center of the base. There is a cobalt
blue ground in the center of this paperweight. It is signed on
the base with a complex cane made from four separate letter canes
forming the signature PMcD. A wonderful paperweight from this
talented glass artist. Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. Peter McDougall did not make many of these miniature crowns. Peter McDougall started his glassmaking career as an apprentice at Strathearn Glass in Crieff, Scotland back in the 1960s. When Perthshire was formed in 1968, he left Strathearn to move to Perthshire and worked there in many positions, eventually becoming Manager and Chief Glassmaker. Perthshire Paperweights closed early in 2002 after the death of the owner Neil Drysdale. Peter McDougall then made high quality glass paperweights at his own glass studio, PMcD Glass Studio Ltd. in Crieff, Scotland from 2002 until early 2012. The studio is now closed but Peter plans to continue to make a limited number of paperweights in the future. Miniature Size: Just over 2" diameter by just over
1 3/4" high. The base is polished concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 4/16/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Peter McDougall, see my Peter McDougall Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5664 | Large Caithness 1985 Limited
Edition Flair US Collectors Club Paperweight. This
paperweight features a single five petaled ruby colored flower
rising from a transparent aquamarine ground. The stem is
surrounded by a controlled pattern of bubbles. There is a
large dew drop (bubble) in the center of the flower. The
paperweight was issued in 1985 in a limited edition of 500
paperweights for members of the US Caithness Collectors Club.
This paperweight is etched on the base "CAITHNESS SCOTLAND FLAIR US
COLLECTORS PAPERWEIGHT" and is engraved "99/500". It comes
with its original certificate stating that it was designed by Colin
Terris and that this is edition 99 of a limited edition of 500
paperweights. A beautiful design. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Very large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2 3/4"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 4/16/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5545 | Antique H. G. Richardson Four Ring
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1913-1920. This magnificent miniature paperweight has
four concentric rings of red, white, and blue millefiori with a
complex red and white center cane. The outer ring of identical
white canes has a cross shape. Also, it has a high
profile. Both factors lead to the identification as a
Richardson's product. Because most Richardson paperweights are
larger in size, it is likely that this paperweight was originally a
stopper for an inkwell. See below for a brief history of H. G.
Richardson in the Stourbridge area. Heavy glass. A great
addition to any collection of millefiori paperweights. Note: The high profile made it difficult to get a good picture. In particular the profile picture taken at an angle is distorted - the paperweight is not. 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. Henry Gething Richardson (1825-1916) was one of a line of Richardson family members involved in the glass trade dating back to 1810. He founded Henry G. Richardson & Sons Ltd. which was well known in the Stourbridge area for producing quality glass wares and eventually millefiori paperweights and inkwells. Although paperweights appeared in their catalog in 1913, it is possible that they started earlier. Production of millefiori items continued until the 1920s when the Wordsley Glassworks in Stourbridge was taken over by Stuart Crystal. Size: 2 1/16" 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 picture$75 postage paid in the US. Added 4/15/2022 For more information about Old English paperweights, see my English Paperweights Web Page . (dl-eng-ant) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2772 | Large Parabelle Glass 1989 Closepack
Millefiori Paperweight. Dated
1989.
This
paperweight has a closepacked millefiori design with a wonderful
variety of millefiori canes placed over an opaque black
ground. There are rose canes, silhouette canes, bell canes,
flower canes, and many complex canes in the setup. The
paperweight is signed with a "PB 1989" cane in the design. A
wonderful paperweight. Note: There is a small area on the side just above the base and below the millefiori that has tiny scratches. This may have happened when the base was ground to remove the pontil scar. This is shown in the pictures. The ground area in the center of the base is not polished, so maybe this was an oversight and the base was not given a final polish. It displays beautifully. Parabelle Glass was a small company created in 1981 by Gary and Doris Scrutton in Portland, Oregon. High quality paperweights were made in small quantities from 1983 to 1998 when they retired. Their best weights are some of the finest ever made, comparing favorably to the best classical French paperweights. Most designs were produced in limited editions of 10 to 25 paperweights, although some editions were larger. They also made some one of a kind paperweights. Doris passed away in 2013 and Gary followed in 2014. After the Scruttons retired in 1998, their daughter Julie Scrutton Lewis made some paperweights and jewelry using Parabelle millefiori canes. Large
Size: 2 3/4" diameter by just under 2" high. The
base is ground concave, but not polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 4/15/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5672 | Magnum Whitefriars Pattern 9851 Blue Swirl
Abstract Paperweight. circa 1978-1980. This
paperweight has a distinctive swirl pattern created by picking up
blue, green, white, and yellow colored glass stingers (rods).
There is a controlled bubble pattern all around the side.
Typical heavy Whitefriars lead crystal. This is pattern
9851. It has its original Whitefriars paper label on the top
with a Whitefriars monk symbol and the text "WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD
CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND". A great addition to any collection
of modern English paperweights. Note: The Whitefriars Paperweights Collectors Guide by Brian Slingsby and Judy Taylor refers to this style of abstract as "Bubble and Streaky", but I prefer to call them swirls. Bubble and Streaky came in four styles and a variety of colors and were made in the 1978 to 1980 time frame. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The limited edition paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for awhile. For a long time, collectors believed that English paperweights and inkwells dated 1848 and similar undated items 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 Old English paperweights and not associate them with Whitefriars. Very large size: 3 3/8" diameter by 2 1/2"
tall. The bottom is polished concave. This paperweight
is heavy and weighs just over two pounds. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$135 postage paid in the US. Added 4/15/2022 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5670 | Caithness Period Whitefriars 1984 Faceted
Butterfly Silhouette Millefiori Paperweight with
Certificate. dated 1984. This paperweight with
three rings of pink and white complex millefiori around the complex
central cane over a translucent aquamarine ground. The complex
center cane consists of two rings of pink and white millefiori
around a central cobalt blue butterfly silhouette cane. Every
millefiori cane in this paperweight is a complex cane. It is
faceted with one large top facet and six smaller side facets.
It is signed and dated on the bottom with the Whitefriars signature
cane dated 1984 and a Whitefriars monk symbol. It comes with
its original certificate. A wonderful design
This paperweight comes with its original certificate stating that it was designed by Colin Terris and made at Whitefriars, a division of Caithness Glass in Perth Scotland. This is one of the transition period paperweights issued after Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name in 1980. It does not appear in any of the Whitefriars catalogs nor in the Colin Terris publications on Caithness. I have seen this paperweight with a 1984 date and also a 1985 date. It may also exist for other years. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for awhile.Size: 2 3/16" diameter by just under 1 5/8"
high. The base is ground flat. Faceted with one large
top facet and six smaller side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 4/14/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers,
see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page
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1868 | Rare 1930s Chinese Butterfly
Paperweight. circa 1930. This paperweight
features a red winged lampwork butterfly flying with wings extended
over millefiori frit ground. The wings are covered with
multi-colored dots. The butterfly body is light blue with two
well defined antennae. The frit ground consists of millefiori
cane slices. This paperweight is signed on the base with a
scratch signature "CHINA". A great example. Note: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Medium Size: Just over 2 1/2" diameter by just under
1 3/4" high. The bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 4/14/2022 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5342 | Francis Whittemore Yellow Carolina
Jessamine Flower with Leaves and Bud Paperweight. circa
1970. This paperweight features a Yellow Carolina Jessamine
flower and bud with green leaves and stems. Signed on the back
of a leaf with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane
has a black "W" on a yellow background. The design is placed
on a shaded opaque purple ground. There is an edition number
"53" engraved on the base. His typical edition size during
this period was 100. A beautiful example. This paperweight is shown in the Leo Kaplan Ltd. catalog on the 9/85 insert. M209 is described as a "Yellow Carolina Jessamine on shaded purple ground $450". Note: The highly reflective surface and high dome made this a difficult paperweight to photograph. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 3/8" diameter by 1 15/16" high. The bottom
is ground concave. The edition number "53" is engraved on
the base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 3/26/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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2230 | Cape Cod Glass Works Bill Burchfield
Crown Paperweight. circa 1997.
Colorful crown paperweight with one of Bill Burchfield's complex
signature canes on the top. The design has 16 twist canes
alternating between red, white, and blue twist canes and aventurine
edged pink twist canes. The
design is topped with a great pink and white pastry mold cane with a
complex signature cane in the center. The signature cane
is not as clear as one could wish, but the paperweight is definitely
by Burchfield. A rare chance to acquire a fantastic crown
paperweight from this outstanding artist.
The complex cane in the crown of this paperweight has the same design as the Burchfield-27 design in Andrew Dohan's book Dictionary of Paperweight Signature Canes. It differs in the color scheme shown in the book and may have been an experimental design. While Bill changed his signature cane each year, he used the Burchfield-27 cane and others in 1997. Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. The Cape Cod Glass Works was operated by William Clark Burchfield in Sagamore, Massachusetts from 1976 to 2000. It then continued briefly in Crossville, Tennessee until 2001. Bill Burchfield died in 2012. Bill's son Mark was also at the glass works until 1998. Bill started making paperweights at Pairpoint Glass in 1970. Size: Just over 2 3/8 diameter by 1 15/16
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$225 postage paid in the US. Added 3/25/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5900 | Daniel Salazar Lundberg Studios Surface
Decorated White Apple Blossom on Blue Luster Paperweight.
dated 2004. This surface decorated paperweight by Daniel
Salazar at Lundberg Studios features wonderful white apple blossom
flowers with leaves and stems. The design is placed on an
iridescent blue luster ground. Under the surface is a
translucent white core. It is signed on the side next to the
base "Daniel Salazar Lundberg Studios 2004 111775" and comes with
its original certificate. A wonderful composition.
Daniel Salazar is one of the lead gaffers at Lundberg Studios in Davenport, California and is their primary paperweight designer and maker. He joined Lundberg in 1975. The studio was founded by James Lundberg in the early 1970s. Steven Lundberg joined shortly later. The first paperweights were made in 1972. In 1973 the firm was renamed Lundberg Studios and moved to Davenport, California. James died in an accident in 1991. Steven left Lundberg Studios in 1997 and set up his own studio. He died from ALS in 2008. Although in later years, each paperweight produced at Lundberg Studios was signed and dated by the studio and signed by the artist, the earliest paperweights were not dated and some did not have the artists signature. Large size: 3 1/16" diameter by 2 3/4"
high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/24/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5424 | Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted
Pedestal Lilac Spider Lily Paperweight with Aventurine
Ground. circa 1960-1980. This is a miniature
pedestal paperweight with a lilac spider lily and four green leaves
on an opaque turquoise aventurine ground. The flower has a six
variegated red to lilac petals and the center is a complex
millefiori cane made up of seven star shaped millefiori canes (six
yellow and an orange center). Each leaf is a double leaf - two
leaves with a clear layer joining them so a bit of the ground shows
through. This makes it look like each leaf has an aventurine
stripe down the center. The ground is an opaque turquoise
layer with sparkly copper aventurine sprinkled on top. The
correct color shows up best in the side views. The paperweight
is tilted at a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully.
Signed on the underside of the ground with a gold K. This design was Charles Kaziun's signature design and one of the most popular with collectors. This size and style was often referred to as a #1. Note: My pictures don't accurately capture the color of the aventurine and show silver rather than the actual copper color. Rest assured that the correct color is more copper than silver. The correct color shows up best in the side views. Charles Kaziun Jr. was one of the most famous of the American paperweight artists. He is often credited with contributing to the rebirth of interest in paperweight making. He made paperweights from the 1940s until his death in 1992. His weights are usually signed with a gold K or a special millefiori cane containing a K. You can read about him in many books, including: Signature: Signed on the underside of the aventurine ground with Kaziun's gold K. Condition: Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$245 postage paid in the US. Added 3/23/2022 For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4436 | Magnum Tom Mosser Locomotive Scene with
Boy and Dog Plaque Paperweight. circa 1970.
This classic decorative plaque paperweight was made by Thomas Mosser
at his Variety Glass Company in Cambridge Ohio. The white
enamel plaque is decorated with a printed decal image (ceramic
transfer) of an old locomotive with a boy and dog in the
foreground. The receding background shows a large building and
other smaller buildings. It is signed with an "M" in the lower
left corner of the scene. The plaque rests on a red and white
frit ground with a second red and white frit ground below. A
great example from this Cambridge Ohio maker. This is a very
large showy paperweight. Note: I've always assumed Mosser used stock images based on Currier and Ives prints or those of another illustrator. I've been unable to identify the original artist. A similar scene appears on a French Limoges porcelain decorative plate that illustrates a scene from England in 1837. Thomas Mosser (born 1927) learned to work with glass at the Cambridge Glass Company where his father Orie Mosser was the plant manager. When Cambridge Glass closed in 1954, Tom decided to continue in the glass business and formed Variety Glass with the support of several experienced glass workers from Cambridge. The first couple of locations failed due to fires, but eventually a stable operation emerged and produced a variety of products, including glassware for the pharmaceutical industry, medical supplies, and also collectible molded items such as novelty salts, jam dishes, toothpick holders, ashtrays, and miniature boot and shoes. Tom also made paperweights to order as well as fixed designs for Shrine and Masonic lodges. Many of his paperweights used ceramic transfers of well known paintings by other artists. For more information, you can read about the Tom Mosser in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (revised 1970). The Mosser family continues to operate a glass business in Cambridge Ohio. Magnum Size: 3 3/4" diameter by 3 5/16" high.
The bottom is polished flat. The base is irregular (not
round) in shape. It weighs 40 ounces and will be over three
pounds when packaged for mailing. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 3/23/2022 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage
American
Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2767 | Large Parabelle Glass 1989 Limited Edition
Looped Millefiori Garland on Opaque Blue Ground Paperweight. Dated
1989.
This
paperweight has a hexafoil six-looped garland of alternating pink
pastry mold canes and white edelweiss canes. There is a
pastry type green cane in the center of each loop and another
larger cane in the center of the design. All of the canes
are pressed into an opaque blue ground in the style of Clichy
color ground paperweights. The paperweight is signed with a
"PB 1989" cane in the design and also has a very worn silver label
with two bells, "PARABELLE GLASS Rings True HANDMADE IN USA" on
the base. This paperweight was issued in a limited edition
of 75 paperweights, but there are no edition markings on the
paperweight. Please note the comment below about condition
issues. A wonderful paperweight with great color. Note: Please note that there are some manufacturing defects in this paperweight. The ground color is uneven and there are some spots on the surface of the ground. In addition there is a 1/8" scratch on the side of the paperweight. Both problems are marked in one picture. The paperweight displays well in spite of these flaws. I am selling this paperweight at a very reduced price. Parabelle Glass was a small company created in 1981 by Gary and Doris Scrutton in Portland, Oregon. High quality paperweights were made in small quantities from 1983 to 1998 when they retired. Their best weights are some of the finest ever made, comparing favorably to the best classical French paperweights. Most designs were produced in limited editions of 10 to 25 paperweights, although some editions were larger. They also made some one of a kind paperweights. Doris passed away in 2013 and Gary followed in 2014. After the Scruttons retired in 1998, their daughter Julie Scrutton Lewis made some paperweights and jewelry using Parabelle millefiori canes. Large
Size: Just under 2 7/8" diameter by 1 7/8" high.
The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$265 postage paid in the US. Added 3/23/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5418 | Rare Kosta Wδrff Jewel 8 Abstract Footed
Paperweight. Circa 1960s. This is very nice Swedish Art
Glass Paperweight designed by famous glass artist Gφran
Wδrff for Kosta Boda. It features a blue and amber
marbrie type design on a clear disk of crystal with a "knob" on
top. Titled "Jewel 8", this version has a 1 1/2" diameter foot
under the marbrie disk. "Jewel" is a series of glass objects
of different sizes and shapes all with the same blue marbrie
design. The series includes paperweights and vases. It
is signed on the base "Kosta Wδrff Jewel 8". A fascinating
design.
Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph. It is very striking and bold. Kosta is one of the oldest glass companies in the world, founded in 1742. Today, the company remains in operation having merged with glassworks in Boda and Εfors. The company name is now Orrefors Kosta Boda AB. Gφran and Ann Wδrff studied industrial design at a Bauhaus influenced school in Ulm Germany. They worked at the Pukeberg glassworks in Sweden and then in 1964 they joined Kosta Boda. In 1968, Ann and Gφran Wδrff shared in the Lunning Prize. Their work was a joint venture, and was occasionally signed Gφrann. They separated in 1972. She then adopted the name Ann Wolff. After 10 years of helping define a style with his innovative designs and processes at Kosta Boda, Gφran took leave for Australia, then England, where he worked and taught. He returned to Kosta Boda in 1984. Medium size: Just over 2 1/2" 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$95 postage paid in the US. Added 3/22/2022 For more information about paperweights from other countries, see my Paperweights from Other Countries Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5909 | Scott Bayless Lotton Studios Yellow Calla
Lily Paperweight. dated 2006. This paperweight
has three wonderful calla lilies with a dark green leaf between each
lily. A well balanced design. Signed on side near the
base "Scott Bayless 2006 Lotton Studios". Truly a standout
design, the one that made Scott Bayless famous.
Scott Bayless began his career in
art glass in 1996 after a visit to the Corning Glass
Museum. He began his arts training as a film student at
Ithaca College in New York and continued at Columbia College in
Chicago. In May 1996 Scott was hired to work part time in
Charles Lotton's shop. He developed his skills and learned
basic methods of working with hot glass. On Thanksgiving
Day of 1999 Scott created his first Calla Lily paperweight which
changed his world. Scott has since developed personalized
techniques that make his original Calla Lily, Orchid, Rose,
Columbine and Hibiscus floral designs beautiful and
unique. Charles Lotton began experimenting
with paperweight and vase production in a backyard shed in late
1970 in Lynwood, Illinois. At the time he was a successful
hair stylist, salon owner, and a collector of glass. From
the beginning, he was determined not to reproduce styles made
previously. He developed his own formulas for creating
glass colors and pioneered the technique of surface
decoration. In 1971 he developed the King Tut
design. Since 1973 he has worked full time in glass
production.
Large size: Just under 2 3/4" diameter by just over
2 9/16" high. The base is polished flat For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$165 postage paid in the US. Added 3/22/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2618 | Mayauel Ward Orange Berries Plant
Paperweight. dated 2009. This paperweight
features a graceful plant with two leaves and a stalk of orange
berries. It was a table favor at the Paperweight Collectors
Association (PCA) Convention in 2009. It is signed and dated
"Mayauel Ward 2009" on the side near the base. Absolutely
wonderful. Mayauel Ward is one of the premier lampwork artists working today. He started with a glass class taught by Stuart Abelman at El Camino College. After completing his studies, he went to work at Correia Glass where he worked with Ken Rosenfeld. In 1979 he joined the Abelman Glass Studio where he started making lampwork designs in 1987. Although he continued to work at Abelman Glass, he also built a studio in his home in Manhattan Beach, CA. His work is uniquely his own although he gets inspiration from the fine lampwork designs of Paul Stankard and Chris Buzzini. There are articles about Mayauel Ward in the 1997 and 2006 issues of the Annual Bulletin of the Paperweight Collectors Association. Size: 2 5/8" diameter by 2 1/8" tall. The base
is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/20/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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588 | Drew Ebelhare Miniature Five Row Close
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Stave Basket.
dated 1996. This is an early Drew Ebelhare miniature
concentric millefiori paperweight with an outer stave basket.
There are four tightly packed inner rings of millefiori and then an
alternating ring of blue and white canes which make up the stave
basket. It is signed in the center with Ebelhare's complex "E"
signature cane. The signature cane has a dark "E" on a lighter
green background in the center of a miniature concentric design and
it is hard to see the "E" without magnification. In addition,
it is signed on the base "Ebelhare 3-96". An awesome
paperweight with amazing detail. Drew Ebelhare has been making glass paperweights since 1983, focusing on millefiori paperweights, especially miniature designs. Drew graduated from Florida State University in 1977 with a Bachelors Degree in technical theater and scene design. After graduating and working at the Alley Theater in Houston, he made a career change becoming one of the founding members of The Houston Glass Art Society. In 1981, Drew set up his first hot glass shop in Houston. He now works out a new studio in Caρon City, Colorado. His millefiori canes have evolved so he now produces his own unique style of floral millefiori canes, including Clichy style roses, camomiles, pansies, primroses, sunflowers and others. Paul Dunlop calls Drew the preeminent millefiori paperweight artist in the United States. Starting in 2009, Drew Ebelhare and Sue Fox collaborated to make wonderful paperweights featuring Sue's delicate lampwork surrounded by Drew's distinctive style of floral millefiori. Sue Fox passed away early in 2020. Very small size: Just under 1 13/16" diameter by 1 3/8"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/19/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4044 | Sarah Rudin Maytum Studio Iridescent
Translucent Pink Twist Paperweight. dated 1988.
Shimmering iridescent and translucent pink twist paperweight made by
Sarah Rudin at Maytum Studio. It is signed on the base
""Maytum Studio 1988 Rudin ©". It
is a fun paperweight with great color. Brian Maytum had a studio in Boulder Colorado and made glass there since the early 1980s. As of 2021, he had retired a few years ago. Sarah Rudin worked at the Maytum Studio in the 1980s. I have no other information on these two talented glass artists. Large size: 2
7/8" diameter by 3" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$75 postage paid in the US. Added 3/18/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5624 | Magnum St. Louis 1970 Faceted Red Double
Clematis Paperweight. dated 1970. This
paperweight features a wonderful red double clematis with twelve red
petals in two layers, an emerging bud, green sepals, leaves
and stems. There is a complex yellow St. Louis "SL 1970"
signature / date cane in the center of the clematis. The
signature cane is rotated in its placement (almost upside
down). The design is placed over a opaque dark blue (almost
black) ground. The paperweight is faceted with one large top
facet and six side facets. St. Louis started producing annual
limited editions in 1970. This paperweight, the double
clematis, was issued in a limited edition of 800 paperweights, 300
of which were reserved for the American market. Of those
reserved for American collectors, 150 were red and 150 were
pistachio colored. A wonderful paperweight.
St. Louis started producing annual limited editions in 1970. Only three designs were produced in 1970, this faceted double clematis, a large unfaceted dahlia, and a millefiori double overlay mushroom. These paperweights appear in the the two books on St. Louis paperweights, The Art of the Paperweight - Saint Louis (First Edition (1981) and Second Edition (1995) by Gerard Ingold. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in 1766. The region was already home to several glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in 1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small. Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or dated. The most successful product of this early revival period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In 1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual limited edition paperweights. In addition to the three types already mentioned, millefiori, lampwork, and sulphide paperweights, St. Louis also made a small number of designs with gold inclusions. Very Large Size : 3 1/4" diameter by 2" high.
The bottom is ground concave. It is faceted with one large
top facet and six side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$595 postage paid in the US. Added 3/17/2022 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis factory, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3548 | Baccarat 1981 Five Row Close Concentric
Millefiori Mushroom Paperweight with Blue and White Double
Overlay. dated 1981. This modern millefiori
paperweight features a wonderful five row concentric millefiori
design with design pulled down to the base to form a slender stem,
completing the mushroom form. There is a larger complex cane
in the center of the design. The blue outer (fifth) row is
visible only from the side. The design is placed over clear
crystal and finished with a blue and white double overlay. It
is signed with a Baccarat's complex "B1981" signature / date cane in
the fourth row. This paperweight is also signed on the base
with an acid etched Baccarat mark along with the engraved year
(1981) and edition number (23). The blue over white overlay is
faceted with one large top facet and five side facets. A
fantastic paperweight. Note: A mushroom paperweight is one that contains an upright, mushroom shaped tuft of millefiori canes. Below the tuft at the top, the canes are pulled down to form a stem. Typically the top is either a closepacked design or a close concentric design. Sometimes, especially with antique paperweights, a torsade is added surrounding the stem of the mushroom. Millefiori mushroom paperweights like this are among the most difficult paperweights to make. Add the double overlay and you have an extremely challenging and desirable paperweight. Note2: After extensive research in the Baccarat archives, Paul Dunlop concluded that popular designs like this were numbered editions, but not limited editions. Baccarat made them in more than one year as sales demanded and numbered the production sequentially. I am not entirely in agreement, but I am content to adopt Dunlop's terminology and refer to this as a numbered 1981 edition. I believe Baccarat intended to limit production of challenging designs like this double overlay mushroom. The records, if any, remain to be found. 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 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: 2 7/8" diameter by just under 2 1/8"
high. The base is polished flat. It is finished with a
blue over white double overlay and faceted with one large top
facet and five side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$595 postage paid in the US. Added 3/16/2022. For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5277 | Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature
Yellow Lampwork Flower with Pink Ground Paperweight.
circa 1962 - 1969. This very early paperweight by Francis
Whittemore features a six petal yellow flower with two green leaves
and a stem. It is signed in the design with an early
Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a
yellow background. The design is placed on a pink
ground. It is an important early example of Francis
Whittemore's work and worthy of any collection of Whittemore
paperweights. Note: This lampwork flower paperweight is similar to the millefiori type examples with the same frit ground offered in Larry Selman's first two editions of "CATALOGUE OF COLLECTORS' PAPERWEIGHTS". See the 1970 Catalog (robins egg blue cover) or the 1971 Catalog (olive green cover). Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 5/16" diameter by 1 3/16" high. This paperweight has a very low profile. The base is polished concave.Signature: Signed in the design with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background. Condition: Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 3/16/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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5623 | Large St. Louis 1980 Pansy on Lace Ground
Limited Edition Paperweight with Fancy Cutting. dated
1980. This dramatic St. Louis paperweight has a large lampwork
pansy with leaves and stem set on a lace ground. The pansy has
two dark blue upper petals, and three yellow lower petals. In
the center of the flower is a complex millefiori cane. Each
lower petal has three dark lines (crows feet) radiating from the
central cane. There is a large top facet and a fancy side
cutting with 18 side cuts. It is signed with a complex
signature cane "SL 1980" on the base. The paperweight was
issued in a limited edition of 400 paperweights of which 250 were
reserved for American collectors. It comes with its original
certificate saying it is copy number 111 of the 250 American
copies. A wonderful addition to any collection of St. Louis
paperweights. Note: This paperweight was issued in a limited edition of 400 paperweights of which 250 were reserved for American collectors. The original issue price in 1980 was $450. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was
founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in
1766. The region was already home to several
glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in
1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although
the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the
output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small.
Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made
between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or
dated. The most successful product of this early revival
period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to
commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no
additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In
1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori
paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide
weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual
limited edition paperweights. Large Size: 3" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
base is ground concave. The paperweight is faceted with one
large top facet and a fancy side cutting with 18 side cuts. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 3/15/2022 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis glass factory in France, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5361 | Magnum Ken Rosenfeld 1987 Six Flower
Bouquet Paperweight with Buds. dated 1987. This
lampwork paperweight has a colorful bouquet of a six flowers and two
buds with leaves over a clear glass ground. There are three
yellow flowers, two orange flowers, one purple flower, and two
purple buds. Each flower has amazing detail. It is
signed on the side near the base with Ken Rosenfeld's "R" signature
cane and engraved signature "Ken Rosenfeld '87". This is
a beautiful very large paperweight with a great composition. Ken Rosenfeld works at his own
studio, Ken Rosenfeld Glass, in Milwaukie, Oregon. Ken's
paperweight expertise arose from a formal art education and a
technical background. He has a Bachelor's degree in art
from the University of California and a Master's of Fine Arts
degree from Southern Illinois University. His technical
experience in scientific glasswork and his studio glass
experience contributed to his superb ability as a glass
artist. Ken has been a paperweight artist since the mid
1980s. He started at Correia Glass, leaving after five
years to set up his own studio in 1983. Very large size: Just under 3 1/2" diameter
by 2 3/8" high. It has a relatively flat top /
profile. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/15/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5395 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1979A Limited
Edition Sunflower Paperweight. dated 1979.
This paperweight features a gold lampwork sunflower with a garland
of green leaves and an outer ring of spaced complex millefiori
canes. Perthshire calls the opaque ground burnt umber.
There is also a complex cane in the center of the flower. It
is signed with a complex "P 1979" signature cane in the center of
the base. It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label
"PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base. This
design was made in a 1979 limited edition of 350 paperweights of
which 303 were actually made. A stunning paperweight bound to
brighten your day.
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1979. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1979, designated A through G. This design is designated 1979A. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Very large size: 3 1/4" diameter by just under 2
7/16" high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/14/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5919 | Magnum Glass Eye Studio 2005 Iridescent
Yellow Flower Paperweight. Dated 2005. This
very large paperweight features a large four petaled iridescent
yellow flower with speckled center. The design is set on a
deep purple colored ground. It is signed with an engraved
signature on the base "Glass Eye Studio 2005" and comes with its
original lined box. An impressive paperweight. Glass Eye Studio was founded in 1978 in Seattle, Washington. Managed by Dale Leman, GES is a production glass company that produces a range of glass products. Most paperweights are signed with the acid etched initials GES, although some are signed with the engraved Glass Eye Studio signature or even a signature cane. Each GES glass product includes some ash from the 1980 eruption of the nearby Mount St. Helens volcano. Large Size: Just under 3 1/4" diameter by 3"
high. The bottom ground flat. The paperweight weighs
just over 1 1/2 pounds (25 ounces). With its original box it
weighs 35 ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$69 postage paid in the US. Added 3/12/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5365 | Large Ray Banford Red Rose with Buds
Paperweight. circa 1990. This paperweight
has a wonderful many petaled variegated red rose with two buds, many
dark green leaves and three stems. It is signed near the stem
with Ray Banford's signature cane having a black "B" on a white
background. The design is set in clear glass with an opaque
star cut white base layer. A wonderful three dimensional
design from this skilled artist. Ray Banford worked in Southampton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his son, Bob Banford. He continued to make paperweights until his death in 2003. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights. Both father and son started using signature canes in 1975. According to Andrew Dohan's Dictionary of Paperweight Signature Canes, "In the early years, Ray Banford used many different color combinations of a B signature cane." The signature cane in this paperweight, a black B in a white background, was used from about 1980 until he died in 2003. Large size: 3" diameter by 2 1/4" high. The
base is convex with an opaque white layer and a star
cut. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$450 postage paid in the US. Added 3/10/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5661 | Caithness 1987 Colin Terris Pink
Champagne Paperweight. issued in 1987. This
whimsical paperweight is intended to remind us of a glass of bubbly
pink champagne. There is a wispy bubble covered pink center
and an outer layer of clear bubbled glass. And one large
center bubble. It is etched on the base "Caithness PINK
CHAMPAGNE Scotland". There is also a hard to read registration
number which I think is H120776" or "11120776". A fun
design. The PINK CHAMPAGNE design is listed and designated CT-550 on page 86 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1987 by Colin Terris. It was released in an unlimited edition. The original issue price in the US was $69.50. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2 7/8" high.
The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 3/8/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5617 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1982E Limited
Edition Nursery Rhyme Silhouettes Paperweight.
dated 1982. This paperweight features a central millefiori
cluster surrounded by five large colored picture canes depicting
nursery rhyme and cartoon characters. There is also a colorful
outer garland of complex millefiori canes. The design is set
on a bright blue ground. It is signed with a complex "P 1982"
signature cane in the center of the base. It also has its
original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF
SCOTLAND" on the base. This design was made in a 1982 limited
edition of 300 paperweights of which 201 were actually made.
It comes with its original wrinkled certificate stating that this is
number 31 of that edition. A fun item with great color.
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1982. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1982, designated A through H. This design is designated 1982E. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 3 1/16" diameter by just under 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$335 postage paid in the US. Added 3/8/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4042 | Kris Heaton Neo Art Glass Iridescent
Silver Heart Paperweight with Butterfly. circa
2000. Magical design featuring a free form iridescent silver
heart and metal butterfly butterfly. The spotted surface
creates the impression a floating leaf where the butterfly has come
to rest. It is signed on the base with a foil label "Neo Art
Glass By K. Heaton" and is also engraved "K Heaton". Kris Heaton (born 1977) is a glass artist from Blackpool, Lancashire, England. He started working in glass at age sixteen as an apprentice to John Ditchfield, (Glasform). Under Johns tuition, Kris developed the skills required to become an independent master glassblower in his own right. His work allows free expression to sculpt molton glass into visual art forms. He now works in his own studio, Neo Art Glass, in Blackpool. Large Size: 3 7/8" long by 2 3/4" wide by 1
3/16" thick. The metal butterfly is about 3/4" by
3/4". The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$45 postage paid in the US. Added 3/5/2022 For more information about other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3739 | Robert Banford Red Clematis with
Buds and Bee Faceted Paperweight with Fancy Base Cutting. circa
1990. This paperweight features a wonderful red clematis with
a yellow center and three companion buds in various states of
opening. A delightful detailed bee hovers over the
flower. There are many green leaves and a stem. The
design is in clear crystal with a powder blue ground at the base of
the paperweight. It is faceted with a large top facet and six
side facets. In addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower
portion below the facets. The paperweight is signed with Bob
Banford's B signature cane at the tip of the stem. The
cutting is by Ed Poore. A very desirable addition to any
collection of contemporary American paperweights. Robert Banford worked in Hammonton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his father, Ray Banford. Bob continued to make paperweights until 2006. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights, but it is sometimes possible to get an idea of when a paperweight was made by the progression of styles and the type of glass used. Bob Banford used a signature cane with a red "B" and a blue surround. Ray Banford used a different signature cane with a black B. Ray passed away in 2003.
Large size: Just under 3 1/16" diameter by just over
2 1/8" high. The bottom is ground concave. It is
faceted with a large top facet and six side facets. In
addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower portion below the
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$850 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. Added 3/4/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5621 | Miniature Strathearn Eight Pointed Star
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Turquoise Ground.
circa 1963-1968. This miniature paperweight features a three
ring concentric millefiori design and is finished as a eight pointed
star. The ground is an opaque turquoise. The star points
give the glass a glittery appearance. This paperweight has a
Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and "STRATHEARN HAND
MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. A great addition to any
collection of Scottish glass. This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape. The top is flattened. The star points give the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Miniature size: 2 diameter by 1 3/16
high. The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 3/4/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5625 | Large St. Louis 1976 Pink Clichy Type
Roses Limited Edition Paperweight - with damage. dated
1976. This dramatic faceted St. Louis paperweight has two pink
Clichy type roses with a bud and green stems and leaves. The
design is placed on a white enameled ground. It is signed with
a distorted complex signature cane "SL 1976" on the underside of the
ground. The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet
and six side facets. The paperweight was issued in a limited
edition of 400 paperweights of which 250 were reserved for American
collectors. The paperweight has its original paper label and
its original (wrinkled and stained) certificate. A brilliant
design. A great addition to any collection of modern St. Louis
paperweights. Note: This paperweight has a fracture in edge of the side facet nearest the pink bud. This fracture can be seen in the detailed pictures and just an edge of the fracture shows in the top down view. The paperweight displays beautifully with that exception. No other damage found on inspection. The original price in 1976 was $330. I am selling it at a considerable discount because of the fracture. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was
founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in
1766. The region was already home to several
glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in
1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although
the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the
output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small.
Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made
between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or
dated. The most successful product of this early revival
period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to
commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no
additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In
1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori
paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide
weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual
limited edition paperweights. Large Size: 3 3/16" diameter by 2" high. The
base is ground concave. The paperweight is faceted with one
large top facet and six side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/3/2022 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis glass factory in France, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5551 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Millefiori Scramble Paperweight. 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 complex canes and twists. A wonderful paperweight in
very good shape. You will enjoy studying the variety of
millefiori canes in it visible from both the top and the base. 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 1/2 diameter by 1 3/4
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/3/2022 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5537 | David Salazar Miniature Lampwork Fuchsia
Paperweight. dated 2000. This paperweight features
a wonderful two color lampwork fuchsia with buds and stem.
Called the "Darling Fuchsia" paperweight, the pink and amethyst
fuchsia blossom and buds were set against a full moon with an
iridescent dark night sky. To create this effect, the fuchsia
is set against a white disk for added depth and the entire design is
placed over a dark purple ground. It is signed and dated on
the flat ground base "D P Salazar 1/00". A wonderful
composition, one that I have not seen before, so maybe David was
experimenting with something new. Note: There are some small bubbles in this paperweight. It is very small, marble sized, yet it has a flat base, so it was intended as a paperweight. David P. Salazar was born in Del Rio, Texas. His fascination with glass started in college, when he began making scientific glassware. In 1972, he started working as an apprentice at Lundberg Studios, and quickly moved into the more creative aspects of designing and torchwork. After 10 years in the studio environment, he decided to strike out on his own in order to develop new designs and techniques. Initially he rented space from Zephyr Studios in Santa Cruz, California, staying there from 1982 to 1985. When Zephyr went out of business, Salazar took over the building and started his own studio. Miniature size: 1 3/4" diameter by just under
1 3/4" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/3/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5356 | Pairpoint Blue and White Twists Crown
Paperweight. circa 1970-1974. This is a crown
paperweight with alternating blue and white twist canes crowned on
top with a pale yellow, blue, and white complex millefiori
cane. There are nine blue and white twist canes and nine white
twist canes. The millefiori crown has a star in the
center. The paperweight is unsigned, but I guarantee it was
made at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore, Massachusetts. Note about Bill Burchfield: Because Bill Burchfield worked at Pairpoint from 1970 to 1976, it is possible that he contributed to the making of this paperweight although he did not sign it. Note: The colors in this paperweight made it difficult to take pictures. It looks better in real life than shown in the pictures. 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 (2019) although under new owners. The Cape Cod Glass Works was operated by William Clark Burchfield in Sagamore, Massachusetts from 1976 to 2000. It then continued briefly in Crossville, Tennessee until 2001. Bill Burchfield died in 2012. Bill's son Mark was also at the glass works until 1998. Bill started making paperweights at Pairpoint Glass in 1970. Size: 2 11/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high. The
bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/2/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5536 | Peter McDougall (PMcD) Miniature
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 2002-2012.
This paperweight consists four concentric circles of millefiori
around a central group of millefiori canes. Although it is not
a true concentric, it gives the appearance of a concentric because
the pattern is so regular. The ground is a rich cobalt
blue. It is signed in the design with a complex cane made from
four separate letter canes forming the signature PMcD. The
signature cane is distorted (as shown in the close-up). It
does not have a paper label.
This is often called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the outside ribbing. The top is flattened. The ribbing gives the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the picture. Note: The picture does not do justice to this paperweight. Ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Peter McDougall started his glass making career as an apprentice at Strathearn Glass in Crieff, Scotland back in the 1960s. When Perthshire was formed in 1968, he left Strathearn to move to Perthshire and worked there in many positions, eventually becoming Manager and Chief Glassmaker. Perthshire Paperweights closed early in 2002 after the death of the owner Neil Drysdale. Peter McDougall then made high quality glass paperweights at his own glass studio, PMcD Glass Studio Ltd. in Crieff, Scotland from 2002 until early 2012. The studio is now closed but Peter plans to continue to make a limited number of paperweights in the future. Miniature size: 1 13/16" diameter by just under 1
1/8" high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/2/2022. For more information about paperweights made by Peter McDougall, see my Peter McDougall Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5649 | Magnum Selkirk 1987 Limited Edition
Abstract Spiral Star Paperweight with Certificate. dated
1987. This paperweight has a serene almost black and white
abstract celestial design representing a spiral star. It is
number 55 out of a limited edition of 500 paperweights. It is
signed in script on the base "SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND SPIRAL STAR
55/500 1987" and comes with its original certificate. A
fantastic item from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by
Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under
Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness
until 1977. Ron Hutchinson, a graduate of Edinburgh
University, was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide
range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and
millefiori paperweights. The company was located in
Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point
they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in
operation until 2006. Very large size: 3 7/16" diameter by 3 1/16" high.
The bottom is ground concave. Magnum sized, it weighs 28
ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/21/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5554 | Rare Allan Scott John Deacons J Glass Faceted
Garlanded Pansy Paperweight. dated 1980.
This paperweight features a delightful five petal yellow and
purple pansy with sepals, stem, and leaves surrounded by a garland
of alternating green and purple complex millefiori canes.
There is also a complex millefiori cane made up of green and purple
star canes in the center of the pansy. This style of pansy is
called a type III pansy, after the Baccarat type III. It
consists of two large velvet purple petals above over three lower
petals. The lower petals are yellow and each lower petal has a
purple tip with three dark lines radiating from the central star
cane to the purple tip. It is signed and dated in the garland
with a J Glass "J 1980" signature cane and Allan Scott's "A"
signature cane. The J Glass "J 1980" cane has a blue J on a
white background with a multi-colored 1980. Allan's "A" cane
has a red A on a white background and is surrounded by a ring of
white star canes with green backgrounds. The paperweight is
faceted with one top facet and six side facets. A wonderful
composition. Note: Although the crystal in this paperweight is clear and colorless, it has a slight blue tint under the fluorescent light I use to take the pictures. This is the result of the chemical composition of the glass and is not present when viewed in sunlight or LED lights. It is possible that this is caused by the addition of neodymium oxide to the glass melt. I've seen this before in other Scottish paperweights. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. John Deacons learned his craft at
Strathearn Glass in Crieff, Scotland in 1967. When Perthshire
was formed in 1968, he left Strathearn to move to Perthshire and
worked there for 10 years before leaving in 1978 to start his
own glass studio. He has produced paperweights and other glass
objects under a variety of labels, including J Glass, St. Kilda,
and now under his own name. Some of the lines were produced
simultaneously. J Glass was produced from 1978 to
1983. The St. Kilda line was produced from 1978 or 1979
through 1987. You can read about John Deacons in the book
by Hall - Scottish Paperweights. Allan Scott began his paperweight career as a lampworker apprentice with Perthshire Paperweights in 1975. When John Deacons left Perthshire in 1978 to set up J Glass, Allan Scott and Harry McKay followed John to J Glass. They stayed at J Glass until it closed in March 1983. After that, Allan Scott joined Caithness Glass, where he stayed until 2007. Large size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
bottom is ground concave. The paperweight is faceted with
one top facet and six side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/21/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5648 | Magnum Selkirk 1988 Limited Edition
Abstract Calypso Paperweight with Certificate. dated
1988. This paperweight has a colorful abstract design
reminiscent of a twirling calypso dancer kicking up dust on the
ground. It is number 51 out of a limited edition of 500
paperweights. It is signed in script on the base "SELKIRK
GLASS SCOTLAND CALYPSO 51/500 1988" and comes with its original
certificate. A fantastic item from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by
Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under
Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness
until 1977. Ron Hutchinson, a graduate of Edinburgh
University, was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide
range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and
millefiori paperweights. The company was located in
Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point
they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in
operation until 2006. Very large size: 3 5/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high.
The bottom is ground concave. Magnum sized, it weighs 28
ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 2/20/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5614 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1981D Limited
Edition Blue Gentian Paperweight with Stave
Basket. dated 1981. This paperweight features a
deep blue six petal flower with green sepals, leaves, and a
stem. The flower has a complex center cane and is set on a
background of fine horizontal latticinio canes. The design is
placed over a translucent amethyst ground and set in a ring of
identical blue complex canes pulled down to the base to form a stave
basket. It is signed with a complex "P 1981" signature cane in
the center of the base. This design was made in a 1981 limited
edition of 400 paperweights of 265 were made. It comes with
its original wrinkled certificate. A impressive design. Note: This paperweight has a rough area on the base from where the pontil was imperfectly ground down. It does not affect how it displays. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1981. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1981, designated A through H. This design is designated 1981D. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 2 13/16" diameter by 2 1/16" 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. Added 2/20/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5631 | Large Waterford Crystal Clear Desk Cube
Paperweight. circa 1980. This is an impressive
Waterford Crystal "cube" with one pattern on the sides and a
different pattern on the top and another pattern on the base.
The dimensions are not truly a cube - it is 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" by 2
11/16", so not quite as high as it is wide. Heavy crystal - it
weighs just over 33 ounces. It has a Waterford etched
signature on the edge of the base. The Waterford Glass House was founded in 1783 by George and William Penrose. The company is best known for its fine crystal products made in Waterford, Ireland. The original company closed in 1851 because of finances. It was reborn in 1947 with factories Dungarvan and Kilbarry (Ireland) and recruited glassworkers from Czechoslovakia and other parts of Europe. From 1997 to 2008, the Rosenthal AG owned most of the British-Irish Waterford Wedgwood Group. The financial crisis of 2008 resulted in further changes in ownership. In 2015, Fiskars Corporation, a global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors, acquired the WWRD group of companies including Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert and Rogaka. Large Size: 2 3/4" wide by 2 3/4" deep by 2 11/16"
high. The and top have different patterns from the one on
the sides. It weighs just over 33 ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$75 postage paid in the US. Added 2/18/2022 For more paperweights from other countries, see my Other Countries Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5530 | Ed Rithner Eight Petal Teal Flower
Paperweight. circa 1940-1970. An upright flower
with eight teal green petals over a speckled green cushion
ground. Each petal has a white outline. The cushion
ground has four pleats with a carefully placed bubble between each
pleat. There is also a planned bubble in the center of the
larger flower at the top. A classic Rithner design.
Ed Rithner worked in Wellsburg, West Virginia from 1908 to the 1970s or later. You can read about Ed Rithner in Jean Melvin's book on American Glass Paperweights and their Makers . All of Rithner's weights are unsigned. Large size: 3" diameter by 2 3/8" high. The
base is fire finished and then ground to a matte finish in the
center to remove the pontil mark. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$115 postage paid in the US. Added 2/18/2022 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5647 | Selkirk 1982 Limited Edition Snow Drops
with Latticino Twists Garland Paperweight. dated
1982. This paperweight has a wonderful lampwork plant with
three delicate white snowdrop flowers. The plant has dark green
stems and two slender variegated dark green leaves. It is
surrounded by a garland of eight short white and clear latticino
twist segments. The design is placed over an almost opaque
dark purple ground. It is number 43 out of a limited edition
of 150 paperweights. It is signed in script on the base
"SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND SNOW DROPS 43/150 1982" and comes with its
original certificate. A great example of a lampwork
paperweight from Selkirk Glass. Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph with its dark surface. Please ignore the bright white spot from the light and other reflections of the camera and lens. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by
Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under
Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness
until 1977. Ron Hutchinson, a graduate of Edinburgh
University, was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide
range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and
millefiori paperweights. The company was located in
Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point
they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in
operation until 2006. Large size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 15/16" high. The
bottom is ground very slightly concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/18/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5632 | Pairpoint Scramble or End of Day
Paperweight on Black Ground. Circa 1970-1990.
This is a end of day paperweight loosely filled with Pairpoint twist
canes and some pieces of millefiori canes placed on a black
ground. I believe this dates from the Bryden period of
Pairpoint production. The black ground makes it a stunning
addition to any collection of glass paperweights. 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. 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 7/8" diameter by 2 1/2 high. The base
is ground flat with a concave center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/17/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5637 | Medium Murano Spaced Millefiori on Twists
Paperweight - Probably by Fratelli Toso. circa
1960s - 1970s. This paperweight is a good example of a Murano
spaced millefiori paperweight with a twist ground. There are
three large bright colored millefiori canes near the surface of the
paperweight. The underlying ground is made up of an assortment
of colored twists and white latticino twists. Bright and
colorful. A fun paperweight. Note: This is sometimes called a scrambled millefiori paperweight, but that would be technically incorrect because the millefiori slices are all placed on top of the twist ground rather than mixed throughout. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Medium size: 2 7/16" diameter by 2 1/4"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$39 postage paid in the US. Added 2/17/2022 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4837 |
Whitefriars 1978 Christmas Millefiori
Paperweight - The Journey to Bethlehem. dated
1978. This is a hard to find Whitefriars Christmas paperweight
featuring a millefiori mosaic of the Mary and Joseph on their
journey to Bethlehem guided by the Star of Bethlehem shining above
them. Mary is depicted riding a donkey with Joseph leading the
way on foot. There is a light blue carpet ground of complex
millefiori canes surrounding the mosaic and also a two ring
millefiori garland of complex canes on the outside. It is
signed in the design with a Whitefriars signature cane having a
white monk and the year 1978. It also has a worn Whitefriars
paper label with a white silhouette of a monk and the text
"WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND". This
paperweight was issued in a limited edition of 1,000 paperweights of
which only 610 were sold, including 102 to the United States.
A marvelous paperweight.
The Whitefriars Christmas paperweights were limited editions made in 1975 through 1980, each with a different Christmas theme. The central pictorial mosaic cane was created by Ray Annenburg. Ray started working at Whitefriars in 1953 and became their chief cane maker in 1972. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for a while. Large size: 3 1/16" diameter by 1 7/8" high.
The base is ground concave. Faceted with one top facet and five
side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 2/16/2022 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2209 | James Hart Closepacked Complex Millefiori
Paperweight with Outer Garland. circa 2005. This
paperweight features a closepacked design of 22 different complex
canes in the center of an outer garland of eighteen identical blue
complex canes. There are a total of 40 complex canes in all,
including six silhouette canes and three rose canes. One of
the complex canes is a James Heart complex signature cane with a red
heart in the center. The design is placed over a copper
aventurine ground. In addition to the signature cane in the
millefiori design, this paperweight is signed underneath the ground
with Hart's white heart signature cane which he used in 2004 and
2005. A fantastic example of James Hart's early work.
James Hart is a paperweight artist working in Nevada. He started working in glass in 1985 focusing initially on millefiori designs and more recently on floral encasements. He studied murrine making with Lauren Stump. His signature has evolved from a simple red heart to more complex signature canes. His millefiori designs initially included canes from Murano, but over time he created a wonderful assortment of his own complex canes, some incorporating Murano canes. Medium size: 2 7/26" diameter by 1 9/16" high.
The bottom is concave. Unlike his earlier works, this
paperweight is encased with a clear layer below the ground.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/14/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4325 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1978C Limited
Edition Bluebell Faceted Paperweight.
circa 1978. This paperweight features three Scottish bluebell
blossoms on a stem with green leaves. The design is set on a
clear ground. It has one convex top facet, sixteen convex side
facets in two rows, and a star-cut base. It is signed with a
complex "P" signature cane near the base of the stem. This
design was made in a 1978 limited edition of 350 paperweights of
which all were made. A nice crisp design that glitters. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1978. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were six Annual Collection designs in 1978, designated A through F. This design is designated 1978C. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Small size: 2 1/4" diameter by 1 11/16" high.
The base is finished with a fancy star-cutting. The
paperweight is faceted with one convex top facet and sixteen
convex side facets in two rows. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$275 postage paid in the US. Added 2/14/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5011 | Perthshire PP20 Medium Millefiori Swirl
Paperweight. circa 1971-1975. This medium swirl
weight is hard to find. It was made only for five years, from
1971 to 1975. The design has a complex center cane and
multicolored spiral threads extending outward and wrapped around to
the bottom. The design is set on a clear ground.
The view of the bottom shows how the spiral threads wrap around to
the base. An interesting early paperweight from Perthshire. Note: Some literature refer to the strands as
seaweed and calls this and the larger PP21 a Seaweed weight rather
than a Swirl weight. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Just under 2 9/16" diameter by just over 1
13/16" high. The base is polished slightly concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 2/12/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4349 | William Manson Phoenix Limited Edition FP8
Pink Flower with Bud and Millefiori Garland Paperweight. dated
2003. This paperweight has wonderful double tiered
pink flower with ten petals plus a bud, leaves, and stems. The
flower has a nice yellow millefiori center. The design is
surrounded by a garland of identical millefiori canes and is set on
an opaque black (actually dark purple) ground. Each millefiori
cane in the garland has a white cogged exterior with a yellow five
point star in the center. The paperweight was issued in a
limited edition of 50 paperweights of which this is number 48.
It is signed and numbered "PHOENIX 2003 48/50" on the base and also
has a Phoenix "PP" signature cane near the stem of the flower.
It comes with its original certificate. A great addition to
any collection of Scottish paperweights. Phoenix Paperweights was a small company started by William Manson Sr. to engage three workers from Perthshire after Perthshire closed in January 2002. They only lasted a year and issued paperweights in 2002 and 2003 before closing in August 2003. Phoenix operated in the Manson works in Perth, Scotland. The glass workers were William Manson Sr., David McNichol (paperweight maker), Duncan Smith (lampworking), and Gordon Taylor (glass cutter). Some of the lampwork was also done by Rosette Fleming. The 2003 Phoenix catalog lists William Manson Paperweights as the distributor. Large size: 2 15/16" diameter by 2" high. The base is
ground concave in the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$235 postage paid in the US. Added 2/12/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2128 | Rare Large Chinese White Paperweight with
Squirrel Eating Grapes. circa 1930. This large
Chinese white paperweight has a colored painting of squirrel sitting
upright and eating a luscious bunch of grapes. The painting is
created on a white enamel base and then encased in glass. The
style dates from the 1930s and is almost an antique.
This paperweight is a form of Chinese folk art although it was most likely inspired by frit weights from Southern New Jersey. I believe the Chinese were given examples of Millville frit weights to duplicate. Since they were already experienced in painting on ceramics, they applied their own unique interpretation to paperweights using a white enamel disk as the base and incorporating familiar themes already found in Chinese art. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. In general, Chinese paperweights from this period have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Large size: Just over 2 11/16" diameter by 1
7/8" high. The base is finished base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 2/11/2022 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4585 | Perthshire 1972 PP19 Limited Edition
Millefiori Scramble Paperweight with Certificate. dated
1972. This is a medium sized scramble or end of day millefiori
paperweight with a large central Perthshire "P 1972" signature /
date cane. The colors resemble an antique Clichy scramble
paperweight. There is a large number of millefiori canes and
pieces of canes packed into this paperweight making it a joy to
examine and study. The design is placed over a clear
ground. It comes with its original certificate indicating it
is #128 out of a limited edition of 350 PP19 paperweights made in
1972. It also has a very worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE
PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND". A fun early paperweight from
Perthshire.
The PP19 was made in a limited edition from 1969 to 1980 and from 1987 to 2002. Each year was a little different with silhouettes added in later years. The earliest versions were smaller This version with a clear ground was made until 1991. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Medium size: Just under 2 1/2" diameter by 1 15/16"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 2/11/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5634 | Large Pairpoint Faceted White Rose
Paperweight - with MMA Certificate. circa 1976.
This is a large white crimp rose paperweight made at Pairpoint Glass
in Sagamore, Massachusetts in a limited edition for the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York to coincide with the American
Bicentennial. It comes with its original certificate stating
it is #83 in the series. The paperweight has 13 petals with a
4+4+3+2 pattern. In the typical Pairpoint style, there are
four wide variegated green sepals and four skinny sepals. It
is faceted with one top facet and five side facets. This rose
paperweight was made by Robbie Mason or one of the other glass
artists who apprenticed with him. In addition to the
certificate, it is engraved "MMA" on the base of the
paperweight. A wonderful example of a modern Pairpoint rose
paperweight. Note: Although the certificate states the paperweight is #83, the size of the edition is not stated. 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 old New Bedford factory burned down in 1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1969. Attempts were made to resume glassmaking in New Bedford for five years (1977-1982), but this was not successful. Bryden retired in September 1988. Since then, the Pairpoint Glass Company has changed owners several times. It continues to operate at that location today. Robert (Robbie) C. Mason (1935-2020) started his glass career in 1950 as an apprentice with Edinburgh Crystal, Scotland (part of the Thomas Webb and Sons). With exception of three years in the Army (1960-1963), he continued to gain seniority and expertise as a glass maker. In 1968, Thomas Bryden advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News for experienced glass workers emphasizing the need for hand made experience. Robbie Mason decided to take a chance on a new employer and joined Pairpoint in 1969. With his experience, he became a gaffer by 1971. He stayed at Pairpoint as a master glassblower until he retired in 2005. A number of well known glass artists apprenticed with him. He retired in 2005 and passed away from complications of COVID-19 in April 2020.Size: 2 11/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high. The
base is ground concave. It is faceted with one top facet and five
side concave facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/10/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5629 | John Deacons Star Shaped St. Kilda
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight - Signed STK. circa
1978-1987. This eight point star shaped paperweight has a four
row close concentric pattern with a center "STK" signature
cane. The design is placed over black or dark purple
ground. The "STK" signature stands for "St. Kilda" which was
John Deacons' label from 1978 or 1979 through 1987. Please see
the note below about a small internal crack. Offered at a
reduced price. An interesting historical item from this
talented Scottish artist. This is often called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the outside ribbing or flutes. The top is flattened. The ribbing gives the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the picture. Note about manufacturing flaw: This paperweight has a small internal crack starting with one of the blue canes (at about 5 o'clock) and extending through an adjoining white cane and into the clear outer layer. It is probably the result of incompatibility between the white layer and the other glass. Please review the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. John Deacons learned his craft at Strathearn Glass in Crieff, Scotland in 1967. When Perthshire was formed in 1968, he left Strathearn to move to Perthshire and worked there for 10 years before leaving in 1978 to start his own glass studio. He has produced paperweights and other glass objects under a variety of labels, including J Glass, St. Kilda, and now under his own name. The St. Kilda line was produced from 1978 or 1979 through 1987. You can read about John Deacons in the book by Hall - Scottish Paperweights. Small size: Just over 2 3/8" diameter by 1 1/4"
high. Molded with eight points and a flat top. The
base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/10/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5387 | Large Ken Rosenfeld 1985 Six Flower
Bouquet Paperweight. dated 1985. This
paperweight has a colorful bouquet of a three roses and three
clematis style flowers with leaves over a clear glass ground.
Each flower has amazing detail. It is signed on the side near
the base with Ken Rosenfeld's "R" signature cane and engraved
signature "Ken Rosenfeld '85". This is a beautiful large
paperweight with a great composition. Note: I am uncertain about which side is up in this bouquet, so I show the flowers in several different positions. Take your choice. Ken Rosenfeld works at his own
studio, Ken Rosenfeld Glass, in Milwaukie, Oregon. Ken's
paperweight expertise arose from a formal art education and a
technical background. He has a Bachelor's degree in art
from the University of California and a Master's of Fine Arts
degree from Southern Illinois University. His technical
experience in scientific glasswork and his studio glass
experience contributed to his superb ability as a glass
artist. Ken has been a paperweight artist since the mid
1980s. He started at Correia Glass, leaving after five
years to set up his own studio in 1983. Size: 2 15/16" diameter by 1 13/16"
high. It has a relatively flat top / profile. The base
is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/9/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5081 | Early John Gooderham Miniature Flower Button
with Center Millefiori Signature Cane. circa
1970s.
This
miniature (tiny) paperweight button has a five petal red flower
with five green sepals. In the center an early John
Gooderham signature cane consisting of a black "J" on a yellow
background and surrounded by a ring eight millefiori canes.
The button has a light blue ground with a copper shank in the
base. A great example of Gooderham's early work. John E. Gooderham (1930-2007) was a
Canadian glass artist known for his miniature paperweights and
paperweight buttons. He also created many paperweight
buttons. Some of his buttons are in the collection of the
Corning Museum of Glass. John's wife Jackie also made glass
buttons. They were from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario,
Canada. Miniature
(tiny) size: Just under 3/4" diameter by just over
1/2" high without the shank. It is 3/4" high including the
shank. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 2/5/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4309 | Large Iridized Royal Brierley Studio (Isle
of Wight Studio Glass) Paperweight. 1988-1991.
Wonderful patterned paperweight made at the Isle of Wight Studio
Glass as part of their Royal Brierley Studio line. It was
designed by Elizabeth Harris. I believe the pattern is either
the Silk or Lace finish and it features an iridized metallic pattern
on the surface with a brilliant blue core. It is signed on the
base with an acid etched "Royal Brierley Studio" - although the etch
was applied in reverse. There is a lot of confusion on the web as to the origin of the Royal Brierley Studio glass line which was made by the Isle of Wight Studio Glass, Old Park, St Lawrence during the period 1985-2000. The confusion is because of the existence of another company named Royal Brierley Crystal. Isle of Wight Studio Glass was established in 1973 by one of the founders of the British Studio Glass Movement, Michael Harris (1933 1994). Michael graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1959 and later became an RCA tutor, setting up hot glass facilities there in 1967. The following year he founded Mdina Glass in Malta, remaining there until 1972, when he moved back to the UK. In 1973, with his wife Elizabeth Harris, he founded Isle of Wight Studio Glass, in Old Park, St Lawrence where it continued until his premature death in 1994. The glass studio continued to operate under the guidance of his son Timothy Harris until 2012. It is worth mentioning that there is also a Royal Brierley Crystal which had a brief connection to the design activity that became Royal Brierley Studio line but was not the same company. Royal Brierley Crystal traced its origins to Smith & Williams Glass (founded 1846) and before that to Brierley Hill Glass Works (founded in 1740). In the mid 1970s, Catherine Hough was the Artist in Residence for two years at Royal Brierley Crystal. She was experimenting with enameling and electroplating on her blown objects. Royal Brierley Crystal was interested in creating a newer product line of studio glass and Hough assisted in the establishment of a Studio at Royal Brierley Crystal. Michael Harris was commissioned to design these pieces which had an iridized finish over red or blue (Loetz-like). The Studio effort was short lived and ended about 1982, but some of the design ideas were continued by Michael Harris and Elizabeth Harris at the Isle of Wight Studio Glass. Large Size: 3 1/16" diameter and just under 2
11/16" high. The base is polished concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $125 postage paid in the US.
Added 2/3/2022 For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.
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2621 | Parabelle Glass 1991 Spaced Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight with Pansy Center. Dated
1991.
This
paperweight has a three ring concentric millefiori pattern with a
pansy cane in the center. The concentric rings consist of
red, white and blue colored millefiori canes. The outer ring
alternates between blue canes with complex centers and white
floret canes. The middle ring alternates between pairs of
blue canes and complex red and white arrow canes. The blue
canes appear again in the inner ring. The design is set on a
clear ground. The paperweight is signed with a light blue
"PB 1991" cane in the outer ring. A wonderful paperweight
with great execution. Note: Please ignore the white areas in the pictures caused by the light. Parabelle Glass was a small company created in 1981 by Gary and Doris Scrutton in Portland, Oregon. High quality paperweights were made in small quantities from 1983 to 1998 when they retired. Their best weights are some of the finest ever made, comparing favorably to the best classical French paperweights. Most designs were produced in limited editions of 10 to 25 paperweights, although some editions were larger. They also made some one of a kind paperweights. Doris passed away in 2013 and Gary followed in 2014. After the Scruttons retired in 1998, their daughter Julie Scrutton Lewis made some paperweights and jewelry using Parabelle millefiori canes. Large
size: 2 3/4" 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 pictureSOLD. Added 1/16/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5346 | Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Three Color
Rope Roses Nosegay Bouquet Paperweight. circa
1960-1980. This miniature paperweight has a nosegay or bouquet
with red, yellow, and orange rope roses along with three dark green
leaves. The design is placed on a white lace or upset muslin
ground. Signed on the bottom of the ground with a gold
K. A special paperweight by this talented artist.
Note: There is a scratched area on the side of the paperweight with two 1/8" long scratches and I am selling this at a reduced price. Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Charles Kaziun Jr. was one of the most famous of the American paperweight artists. He is often credited with contributing to the rebirth of interest in paperweight making. He made paperweights from the 1940s until his death in 1992. His weights are usually signed with a gold K or a special millefiori cane containing a K. You can read about him in many books, including: Signature: Signed on the bottom of the ground with Kaziun's gold K. Condition: Very good condition. There is a scratched area on the side of the paperweight with two 1/8" long scratches. No chips or cracks found on inspection. There are some tiny bubbles in the design, especially in the lace ground. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 1/6/2022 For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4326 | Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink and White
Icepick Flower Paperweight. circa 1960-1970. This
very large paperweight features five pink and white ice-pick flowers
over a white frit ground. As is typical of this style, there
is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a
carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each flower.
It is hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom. A very flashy
paperweight. This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood. Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice. Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories. Bob St. Clair died in 1986. Joe St. Clair died in 1987. Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother, Paul St. Clair died in 2000. Very large size: 3 11/16" diameter by 2 9/16"
high. It weighs over 28 ounces and will be over two pounds
when packaged. The base is finished flat and hot stamped in
the center with the signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 12/26/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2403 | Magnum Parabelle Glass 1985 Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight with Red and White Torsade. Dated
1985.
This
paperweight has a four ring concentric millefiori pattern with a
wonderful large red and white torsade on the outside. The
concentric rings consist of blue and rust-red colored millefiori
canes. The design is set on a clear ground. The
paperweight is signed with a "PB 1985" cane in the design. A
wonderful paperweight with great color. Note: Please ignore the white areas in the pictures caused by the light. Parabelle Glass was a small company created in 1981 by Gary and Doris Scrutton in Portland, Oregon. High quality paperweights were made in small quantities from 1983 to 1998 when they retired. Their best weights are some of the finest ever made, comparing favorably to the best classical French paperweights. Most designs were produced in limited editions of 10 to 25 paperweights, although some editions were larger. They also made some one of a kind paperweights. Doris passed away in 2013 and Gary followed in 2014. After the Scruttons retired in 1998, their daughter Julie Scrutton Lewis made some paperweights and jewelry using Parabelle millefiori canes. Very
large size: 3 3/16" diameter by just under 2 3/8"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$495 postage paid in the US. Added 12/22/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1700 | Magnum Chinese Copy of the Famous Clichy
Millefiori Basket Paperweight - Heart Shaped. Circa
2000. This very large millefiori paperweight has a basket form
with a heart shaped top. The top is bulging with flowers
arranged in a complex millefiori garland pattern on a moss
ground. The top is edged with a reddish orange and white
torsade lip. The sides of the basket are formed using green
and white staves and the base also has a reddish orange and white
torsade lip. It was originally marketed on the QVC television
network and was sold as a "lamp" with a lighted stand. This
copy does not have the stand. A fun addition to any collection
of glass paperweights. Note: While the resemblance to the antique Clichy basket paperweight is unmistakable, this paperweight is considerably larger than the original which was only 4 1/4" in diameter. The original antique was oval shaped rather than heart shaped. The original Clichy antique held the record for the most expensive paperweight ever sold. It sold for $258,500 to a private collector at a Sotheby's auction in New York on June 26, 1990. Unfortunately it was dropped and damaged beyond repair. You can see the cover of the Sotheby's auction with a picture of the Clichy basket at this link: Sotheby's Catalog Very large size: 7 1/2" wide by 7" deep by 3 7/8"
high. The base is ground flat. It weighs 102 ounces
(six pounds six ounces) and will be approximately eight pounds
when boxed for mailing. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$275 plus postage. For this item, because of the weight (8 pounds packaged), the buyer will pay the postage. US Sales only, no international shipping. Added 12/9/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2804 | Magnum 1985 Orient & Flume Bruce
Sillars Grapes Paperweight. dated 1985. This
wonderful paperweight features wonderful three dimensional
multi-level design with a bunch of purple grapes and three large
dark green leaves and stems over a clear ground. The It is
signed on the base "Orient & Flume CZ2A1985 B. Sillars".
It also has an Orient & Flume paper label "ORIENT & FLUME
CHICO, CALIF." on the base. A wonderful paperweight. Orient & Flume was started in 1972 in Chico, California by Douglas Boyd and David Hopper. It studio took its name from its initial location which was at the corner of Orient & Flume. Their early weights adopted a style that has become known as the California style of iridescent paperweights with surface torchworked art nouveau motifs on the outside surface of the weight. Later work involved interior lampworked designs such as the floral design found encased here. Every Orient & Flume piece has a registration number which usually includes a date code. Douglas Boyd passed away in 2018. David Hopper and his wife Shari retired to nearby Paradise California. They survived the wildfire that destroyed most of Paradise in 2018. Orient & Flume continues in Chico with new owners Bruce Sillars and Ronda Davis. Bruce was one of the original Orient and Flume artists and Ronda has spent the last 30 years at the studio handling sales and other responsibilities. They are joined by another early O&F artist Scott Beyers. Bruce Sillars was the first
employee hired by Orient & Flume and is still at O&F
today. Since
1973 Bruce has been responsible for many of Orient &
Flume's most successful designs. He grew up in
the Los Angeles suburbs and worked in ceramics in High School,
later becoming a technician in the ceramic studio at Moorpark
College. Sillars shifted
from ceramics at Chico State University to metal and sculpting
to glass blowing, earning a BA in Art with
an emphasis in ceramics, glass, and sculpture from California
State University, Chico. In the beginning he created iridescent vases and paperweights that
incorporated both geometric and naturalistic floral motifs. Over
time the designs became more and more complex and sophisticated
and by the early 80's his work began to move away from
iridescent glass focusing on three-dimensional motifs and
employing both "torch worked" and "lamp worked" design elements. Very Large Size: 3 3/16" diameter by 2 11/16"
high. The bottom has been polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/18/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5481 | Magnum 1983 Orient & Flume Bruce
Sillars Daffodils Paperweight. dated 1983. This
wonderful paperweight features two delicate lampwork daffodils with
green foliage on a dark green (almost black) ground. It is
signed on the base "Orient & Flume CZ11Jn1983 B. Sillars".
It also has a rare Orient & Flume signature cane "OF 83".
It comes with its original certificate. A wonderful
paperweight. Orient & Flume was started in 1972 in Chico, California by Douglas Boyd and David Hopper. It studio took its name from its initial location which was at the corner of Orient & Flume. Their early weights adopted a style that has become known as the California style of iridescent paperweights with surface torchworked art nouveau motifs on the outside surface of the weight. Later work involved interior lampworked designs such as the floral design found encased here. Every Orient & Flume piece has a registration number which usually includes a date code. Douglas Boyd passed away in 2018. David Hopper and his wife Shari retired to nearby Paradise California. They survived the wildfire that destroyed most of Paradise in 2018. Orient & Flume continues in Chico with new owners Bruce Sillars and Ronda Davis. Bruce was one of the original Orient and Flume artists and Ronda has spent the last 30 years at the studio handling sales and other responsibilities. They are joined by another early O&F artist Scott Beyers. Bruce Sillars was the first
employee hired by Orient & Flume and is still at O&F
today. Since
1973 Bruce has been responsible for many of Orient &
Flume's most successful designs. He grew up in
the Los Angeles suburbs and worked in ceramics in High School,
later becoming a technician in the ceramic studio at Moorpark
College. Sillars shifted
from ceramics at Chico State University to metal and sculpting
to glass blowing, earning a BA in Art with
an emphasis in ceramics, glass, and sculpture from California
State University, Chico. In the beginning he created iridescent vases and paperweights that
incorporated both geometric and naturalistic floral motifs. Over
time the designs became more and more complex and sophisticated
and by the early 80's his work began to move away from
iridescent glass focusing on three-dimensional motifs and
employing both "torch worked" and "lamp worked" design elements. Very Large Size: 3 1/8" diameter by just under 2
5/8" high. The bottom has been polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/18/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2812 | Pairpoint Multicolored and White Twists
Crown Paperweight. circa 1972-1975. This is a
crown paperweight with alternating multicolored twist canes and
white twist canes topped on top with a yellow and white complex
millefiori crown. There are nine colored twist canes and nine
white twist canes. The millefiori crown has a star in the
center. This paperweight is unsigned, but I have had signed
Pairpoint crown paperweights that were nearly identical. A
great example of modern Pairpoint production. Note about Bill Burchfield: Because Bill Burchfield worked at Pairpoint from 1970 to 1976, it is possible that he contributed to the making of this paperweight although he did not sign it. It is certainly similar to crown paperweights that he produced on his own at the Cape Cod Glass Works. 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 (2019) although under new owners. The Cape Cod Glass Works was operated by William Clark Burchfield in Sagamore, Massachusetts from 1976 to 2000. It then continued briefly in Crossville, Tennessee until 2001. Bill Burchfield died in 2012. Bill's son Mark was also at the glass works until 1998. Bill started making paperweights at Pairpoint Glass in 1970. Size: Just under 2 3/16" diameter by 1 13/16"
high. The bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/6/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5513 | Magnum Rosenthal Studio-Linie Swirl
Paperweight. circa 1971 or later. This very large
and wonderful Rosenthal swirl paperweight features a swirl of white
glass over a clear crystal ground. It is acid etch marked on
the base with the name Rosenthal, the crown and crossed swords logo,
and Studio-Linie underneath. A dramatic addition to any
collection of glass paperweights. Rosenthal was founded in 1879 as a family business. Originally the focus was porcelain manufacture and porcelain painting. In 1960, the Rosenthal Studiohaus was opened in Nuremberg and in 1965 the name was changed briefly to Rosenthal Glas & Porzellan AG and then in 1960 to Rosenthal AG in 1969. From 1997 to 2008, the Rosenthal AG owned most of the British-Irish Waterford Wedgwood Group. The Studio-Linie mark was used from 1971 to at least 1995. Since the Rosenthal mark on this paperweight does not identify the country of origin (normally Germany), it is possible that the paperweight was made at Waterford, but I have no evidence one way or the other. Very large size: 4 5/15 diameter by 2 15/16
high. The base is polished flat. It weighs just under
three pounds (47.1 ounces). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. 11/6/2021 For more paperweights from other countries, see my Other Countries Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3899 | Robert Grablow Pedestal Crimp Red Rose
Paperweight with Frosted Exterior. circa 1990.
This wonderful variegated red crimp rose paperweight has fifteen
petals in a 4+4+4+3 pattern plus four sepals. The rose is
placed floating on a clear ground in a pedestal base. The
exterior is frosted with one angled. Although Grablow normally
signed his paperweights, I do not see a signature on this one.
There are some striations or sugaring in the glass. A
wonderful example from this talented Millville, NJ artist.
Crimp roses represent the ultimate challenge for paperweight makers. You can read about the crimps and their use in making crimp roses in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Robert Grablow was a Millville, New Jersey artist best known for full size crimp roses made from the furnace tank. He started making crimp roses in 1986 or so when he started as a volunteer at Wheaton Village and added a signature cane around 1991. Although best known for his full size crimp roses, he also made lampworked miniature roses starting about 1967 time frame. These early miniature roses were sold through the Arthur Gorham Paperweight Shoppe at Wheaton Village. Size : 2 3/4" diameter by just over 3" high.
The exterior is frosted with one angled polished window to view
the rose. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$265 postage paid in the US. Added 11/3/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1627 | Rare Chinese White Paperweight with Bird
Flying Through Bush with Red Flowers. Circa 1930.
This paperweight has a colored painting of a bird flying through
foliage with red flowers. The painting is created on a white
enamel base and then encased in glass. The style dates from
the 1930s and is almost an antique.
This paperweight is a form of Chinese folk art although it was most likely inspired by frit weights from Southern New Jersey. I believe the Chinese were given examples of Millville frit weights to duplicate. Since they were already experienced in painting on ceramics, they applied their own unique interpretation to paperweights using a white enamel disk as the base and incorporating familiar themes already found in Chinese art. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. In general, Chinese paperweights from this period have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Medium Size: 2 1/2" diameter by 1 3/8"
high. The bottom is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/2/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2317 | Magnum Antique Photographic Paperweight of
a Young Woman. circa 1890. This paperweight presents a
photographic image of a young woman placed on a thin white enamel
plaque. The image is encased in clear glass. The base is
finished with a matte finish. The woman is not
identified. The paperweight is unsigned but it is possibly a
product of Albert Graeser who refined a photographic process
patented by William Maxwell in 1882. A wonderful example of
this surprising application of photography to glass.
Albert Graeser was a well known producer of photographic paperweights working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1890-1900 period. He used a process patented by William H. Maxwell in 1882. For more information on this style of paperweight see the article "Ordinary People" by William Price, Jr. in the 2000 Annual Bulletin of the Paperweight Collectors Association. Very large Size : 3 1/2" diameter by 2 3/8"
high. The bottom is ground flat and finished with a matte
finish. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 11/2/2021 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4305 | Drew Ebelhare Six Row Close Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight with Stave Basket. dated
1992. This is an early close concentric millefiori paperweight
with an outer stave basket. There are five tightly packed
inner rings of millefiori and then an alternating ring of turquoise
and white canes which make up the stave basket. It is signed
in the center with Ebelhare's complex "E" signature cane. In
addition, it is signed on the base "Ebelhare 12-92 Houston".
This paperweight has an unusually large dome for Ebelhare's early
paperweights. An awesome paperweight with amazing detail. Drew Ebelhare has been making glass paperweights since 1983, focusing on millefiori paperweights, especially miniature designs. Drew graduated from Florida State University in 1977 with a Bachelors Degree in technical theater and scene design. After graduating and working at the Alley Theater in Houston, he made a career change becoming one of the founding members of The Houston Glass Art Society. In 1981, Drew set up his first hot glass shop in Houston. He now works out a new studio in Caρon City, Colorado. His millefiori canes have evolved so he now produces his own unique style of floral millefiori canes, including Clichy style roses, camomiles, pansies, primroses, sunflowers and others. Paul Dunlop calls Drew the preeminent millefiori paperweight artist in the United States. Starting in 2009, Drew Ebelhare and Sue Fox collaborated to make wonderful paperweights featuring Sue's delicate lampwork surrounded by Drew's distinctive style of floral millefiori. Sue Fox passed away early in 2020. Size: Unusually large for Drew Ebelhare's early
paperweights, this paperweight is has an extra large dome and is 2
9/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high. The base is ground
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/1/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5344 | Large David and Jon Trabucco Faceted
Yellow Flower Paperweight with Buds. circa
1985-2000. This paperweight consists of a large five petal
yellow flower with two yellow buds and variegated leaves and stems
on a clear ground. The flower has a wonderful complex center
composed multiple tubes, filaments and pads. It is signed with
a stretched "T" signature cane on the underside of a leaf. The
paperweight is faceted with a large top facet and six side
facets. A fabulous paperweight.
Twin brothers David and Jon Trabucco learned glass working under the direction of their father, the accomplished glass artist Victor Trabucco. When they first started out, David made the floral setups and Jon did the encasement and cutting, but over time they both became involved in all aspects of paperweight production. They are now accomplished glass artists in their own right. They have their own studio and also continue to work with Victor at the large Trabucco Glass Studio in Clarence, NY. Victor Trabucco's original career
was as a steelworker. He began working with glass in 1974
after seeing a flameworker make a sculpture. He knew this was
what he wanted to do for his life's work. Trabucco says that
Glass is the ultimate challenge; it has properties of no other
material and offers the artist possibilities that are inspiring
for the creative process. His work is often inspired by nature,
capturing the beauty and motion of the subject and freezing a
moment in time. His work is in the collection of many major
museums. Victor set up his first studio in the basement of
his house and learned by experimentation. He now works
with his sons Jon and David in a large studio in Clarence, NY. Large Size: 2 7/8 diameter by 2 3/16
high. The base is ground slightly concave. The
paperweight is faceted with a large top facet and six side facets.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$575 postage paid in the US. Added 11/1/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3132 | David Salazar Heart Shaped Paperweight
with Surface Decorated Butterfly and Flowers. dated
2006. This paperweight features a heart shaped design with a
white translucent frit ground. On the surface, David Salazar
has added a blue butterfly and two purple flowers plus leaves and
stems. These stand above the surface in raised relief.
Very precise and colorful. The design is set on a swirling
translucent white ground. It is signed and dated on the fire
finished base "D. P. S. G. (for David P. Salazar Glass) with the
initials SB (which I can't explain) and the date 12/06. The
signature is very difficult to read, so I colored it with a child's
washable marker (now removed) so I could take the pictures. A
wonderful composition. David P. Salazar was born in Del
Rio, Texas. His fascination with glass started in college,
when he began making scientific glassware. In 1972, he
started working as an apprentice at Lundberg Studios, and
quickly moved into the more creative aspects of designing and
torchwork. After 10 years in the studio environment, he
decided to strike out on his own in order to develop new designs
and techniques. Initially he rented space from Zephyr
Studios in
Santa Cruz, California, staying there from 1982 to
1985. When Zephyr went out of business, Salazar took over
the building and started his own studio. Size: 2 7/16" high by just under 2 3/8" wide by just
over 1 5/16" thick. The base is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$145 postage paid in the US. Added 10/31/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2261 | Magnum Pairpoint White Crimp Rose
Paperweight - unfinished. circa 1970-2000. This
is a very large white crimp rose paperweight made at Pairpoint Glass
in Sagamore, Massachusetts. It has 15 petals with a 4+4+3+3+1
pattern. The innermost petal is tiny. There are also
eight variegated green leaves, four large and four skinny. Two
of the large leaves and one skinny leaf did not separate well and
this paperweight was left unfinished with a wider (oval) rather than
normal profile. The pontil is also unfinished. It is
possible that this rose paperweight was made by Robbie Mason or one
of the other glass artists who apprenticed with him. A
interesting example of a modern Pairpoint rose paperweight offered
at a bargain price. 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 old New Bedford factory burned down in 1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1969. Attempts were made to resume glassmaking in New Bedford for five years (1977-1982), but this was not successful. Bryden retired in September 1988. Since then, the Pairpoint Glass Company has changed owners several times. It continues to operate at that location today. Robert (Robbie) C. Mason (1935-2020) started his glass career in 1950 as an apprentice with Edinburgh Crystal, Scotland (part of the Thomas Webb and Sons). With exception of three years in the Army (1960-1963), he continued to gain seniority and expertise as a glass maker. In 1968, Thomas Bryden advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News for experienced glass workers emphasizing the need for hand made experience. Robbie Mason decided to take a chance on a new employer and joined Pairpoint in 1969. With his experience, he became a gaffer by 1971. He stayed at Pairpoint as a master glassblower until he retired in 2005. A number of well known glass artists apprenticed with him. He retired in 2005 and passed away from complications of COVID-19 in April 2020. Very large size: 3 5/8 diameter by 2 7/8
high. The shape is oval rather than spherical and the pontil
is unfinished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 10/30/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4285 | Magnum Caithness 1977 Colin
Terris Jubilee Moonflower Limited Edition Paperweight.
dated 1977. This paperweight is one of a group of
four Caithness paperweights created to celebrate the silver jubilee
of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. The large spherical Caithness
paperweight features a celebratory fountain design with four large
bubbles and a center spray. There are nine smaller bubbles at
a lower level. The design is set over a clear
ground. This paperweight is engraved "EiiR 1952 - 1977"
and the number 501. It is number 501 in a limited edition of
3,000 paperweights. It also has a worn Caithness label "CG
HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" with writing in blue ink on it. A
beautiful design. The JUBILEE MOONFLOWER design is listed and designated CT-70 on page 18 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1977 by Colin Terris. It was released in a limited edition of 3,000 paperweights, all of which were made. This design was one of four paperweights in the HM Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Collection. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Very large size: Just under 3 3/16" diameter by 2
11/16" high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 10/29/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1691 | Vintage Magnum Tom Mosser "BEULAH
MENNEELY" Name Plaque Paperweight. dated
1972. This is a classic type of name plaque paperweight
produced by Thomas Mosser at his Variety Glass Company in Cambridge
Ohio. The rectangular white enamel plaque with a decorative
border of holly leaves and berries and the name and date
"BEULAH MENNEELY DECEMBER 1972" suggests that this was made as a
holiday gift. The name plate or plaque was decorated by Ray
Bichard. The plaque rests on a red frit ground with a second
white ground below it. A great example from this Cambridge
Ohio maker. This style of name plaque paperweight was made by Tom Mosser and John Degenhart, both of Cambridge Ohio. Degenhart added ice-pick flowers in the corners of the plaque. Ray Bichard decorated paperweights for both factories using similar designs for each. Thomas Mosser (born 1927) learned to work with glass at the Cambridge Glass Company where his father Orie Mosser was the plant manager. When Cambridge Glass closed in 1954, Tom decided to continue in the glass business and formed Variety Glass with the support of several experienced glass workers from Cambridge. The first couple of locations failed due to fires, but eventually a stable operation emerged and produced a variety of products, including glassware for the pharmaceutical industry, medical supplies, and also collectible molded items such as novelty salts, jam dishes, toothpick holders, ashtrays, and miniature boot and shoes. Tom also made paperweights to order as well as fixed designs for Shrine and Masonic lodges. Many of his paperweights used ceramic transfers of well known paintings by other artists. For more information, you can read about the Tom Mosser in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (revised 1970). The Mosser family continues to operate a glass business in Cambridge Ohio. Ray Bichard decorated the name plates, scenes, and other designs for the Degenhart Factory and also Tom Mosser at Variety Glass, also in Cambridge. Magnum Size: Just under 3 3/4" diameter by 3"
high. The bottom is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 10/28/2021 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage
American
Paperweights Web Page. |
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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. 10/27/2021 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4290 | David Salazar Monarch Butterfly with Pink
Blossoms Paperweight. dated 1994. This paperweight
features a wonderful Monarch butterfly hovering over two pink
blossoms and green leaves. The design is set on a swirling
translucent white ground. It is signed and dated on the fire
finished base "D. P. Salazar 1994", although the signature is
difficult to read. A wonderful composition. David P. Salazar was born in Del Rio, Texas. His fascination with glass started in college, when he began making scientific glassware. In 1972, he started working as an apprentice at Lundberg Studios, and quickly moved into the more creative aspects of designing and torchwork. After 10 years in the studio environment, he decided to strike out on his own in order to develop new designs and techniques. Initially he rented space from Zephyr Studios in Santa Cruz, California, staying there from 1982 to 1985. When Zephyr went out of business, Salazar took over the building and started his own studio. Size: 2 7/16" diameter by 2 1/4" high.
The base is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 10/26/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4318 | Rare Lewis and Jennifer Wilson Crystal
Myths Meadow Scene Paperweight with Coral Snake, Frog, and Yellow
Flower. dated 2005. This paperweight has a red,
yellow, and black banded coral snake moving through a green meadow
with a green frog watching cautiously. There is a mysterious
three dimensional five petal yellow flower with a yellow bud and leg
like and toe like appendages that is suggestive (to me) of a
mystical flower headed lizard - but that is probably just my
imagination. Exactly the type of sculptures that Lewis Wilson
and his daughter Jennifer often create at Crystal Myths. The
ground has the appearance of a meadow floor with some rocks and
pebbles. It is signed on the side near the base "L J W
05". A fantastic collaborative paperweight from these skilled
artists. Lewis Calvin Wilson is a
self-taught artist who started working with glass in 1972.
In October 1973, he worked briefly with Miguel Bonilla at Walt
Disney World in Orlando. Crystal Myths, Inc. was
established in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1974. Lewis is
best known for his fantastic glass sculptures, which he
continues to make. His repertoire now includes beads,
marbles, and some paperweights. He now works with his
daughter Jennifer Wilson on the miniature encasements
like this paperweight. Together they also teach
lampworking and have produced a number of books and videos on
lampworking. Large Size: 2 5/16" diameter by 1 15/16" high.
The bottom is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 10/24/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1435 | Antique St. Mandι Miniature Millefiori Scramble
Paperweight. circa 1841-1857. This is an
antique St. Mandι 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. Mandι. 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. Mandι factory. This was a small one pot glass factory in the village of St. Mandι, 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. Mandι 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. Mandι in the PCA Annual Bulletins, notably in 1991, 1999, and newer issues. Originally it was estimated that only a few hundred St. Mandι 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. Added 9/17/2021 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4303 | Peter Raos Magnum Pacific Series Blue
Starfish Paperweight. Dated 2001. This
paperweight features a naturalistic interpretation of a New Zealand
Pacific reef with a a blue starfish and a variety of coral and sea
life. It was made by Peter Raos in New Zealand and is part of
his Pacific Series of paperweights. Peter calls this shape a
flat domed paperweight. According to Raos, the design was was
inspired by a visit to the Sydney aquarium in the early
1980's. During the visit he saw a coral tank with colorful
corals and starfish. It is signed on the side near the base "Raos
2001 NZ". This is a hard to find item. A wonderful
paperweight. Peter Raos works as a glass artist in Devonport, New Zealand since starting his studio in 1979. He is a graduate of the University of Auckland Elam School of Fine Arts and Design. Large size: It has a flat profile and is just over 3
3/4 diameter by 2" tall. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 9/11/2021 For more information about paperweights from other countries, see my Paperweights from Other Countries Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2620 | Fantastic Miniature Cape Cod Glass
Works Bill Burchfield Crown Paperweight.
circa 1997. This is an amazing tiny crown paperweight with one
of Bill Burchfield's large rose canes on the top. The design
has twenty one twist canes. It appears that Burchfield chose
to alternate each white twist cane with two blue and red twist
canes, with a total of seven white twist canes and fourteen blue and
red twist canes. The paperweight is crowned with a rose cane
that was used only in 1997. A rare miniature from this
talented artist. The rose cane used to top this paperweight is designated as Bill Burchfield-25 in Andrew Dohan's DICTIONARY OF PAPERWEIGHT SIGNATURE CANES (CD Version 2007). Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. The Cape Cod Glass Works was operated by William Clark Burchfield in Sagamore, Massachusetts from 1976 to 2000. It then continued briefly in Crossville, Tennessee until 2001. Bill Burchfield died in 2012. Bill's son Mark was also at the glass works until 1998. Bill started making paperweights at Pairpoint Glass in 1970. Size: Just under 1 13/16 diameter by 1 1/4
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 9/11/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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469 | Chinese Cube Shaped Single Crown Aquarium
Paperweight. circa 1940 or later. This
paperweight features a miniature crown paperweight inside a nearly
cube shaped paperweight. It is a uniquely Chinese
invention. It is intended to be placed in an aquarium
along with the rocks and plants. The inner crown paperweight
has an orange six petal flower on top of a sphere made from white
filigree. The flower has a yellow millefiori center. The
edges are beveled. Novelty items like this started appearing
in the US in the 1930s and some were sold at the 1939 World's Fair
but I believe this is a later example because the glass is better
quality. A fun collectible. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Size: 1 1/4" by 1 1/4" by 1 7/16" high. The
edges are beveled. The base has been polished flat but still
has some voids. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$39 postage paid in the US. Added 9/5/2021 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3020 | William Manson 1980 Yellow Spotted Green
Aventurine Salamander Limited Edition Paperweight. dated
1980. This a William Manson yellow-spotted green
aventurine salamander moving among scattered white rocks on a brown
and yellow sandy surface. The design is placed over an almost
opaque amethyst ground. It was issued as a limited edition of
150 paperweights and is engraved on the base "94/150" and also has a
"wm 80" signature / date cane on the base. This paperweight
was made at William Manson's small home studio during a period that
he was employed on and off by Caithness. A brilliant design. William Manson, Snr. started his glass working career at Caithness Glass at the age of 15 in the 1960s. He apprenticed with Paul Ysart. Manson left Caithness in 1971 to work at Ysart's Harland Glass and rejoined Caithness several years later in 1974. He was at Caithness on and off between 1974 and 1997. During this period he also had a small studio at home. In 1997 he left for good to form his own studio William Manson Paperweights. After Perthshire closed in January 2002, William Manson Sr. started Phoenix Paperweights to engage three workers from Perthshire. They only lasted a year and issued paperweights in 2002 and 2003 before closing in August 2003. Phoenix operated in the Manson works in Perth, Scotland. For a brief period (2004-2006), William Manson, Sr. made collaborative paperweights with John Deacons. His son, William David Manson, assisted him starting in 1992, taking it up as a career in 1996 (age 18) and continued until the market cooled in 2003-2004. He is now in the process of setting up his own studio (in 2021). Size: Just over 2 7/8" diameter by 2" high.
The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 9/5/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4805 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1989F Limited
Edition Cherries Faceted Paperweight.
circa 1989. This paperweight features five cherries with green
leaves and stems on a clear ground. The all over honeycomb
faceting makes it appear as if there are many more cherries than
just five. It has a grid cut base and is engraved with a "P"
signature on a facet near the base. This design was made in a
1989 limited edition of 300 paperweights of which only 154 were
made. A nice crisp design with many reflections. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1989. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1989, designated A through G. This design is designated 1989F. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 2 7/16" diameter by 1 1/2" high.
The base is fire finished and engraved with the letter "P".
The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five side
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 9/4/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4276 | Stuart Abelman Iridescent Floral
Paperweight. dated 1997. This amazing paperweight
has an iridescent surface decorated with a large blue and white five
petal flower and a stylized leafy stem. The ground is
translucent. What makes this paperweight especially magical is
the way the glass changes color as it reflects light. The
frosted ground also changes to a clear ground as it blends towards
the base. It is signed on the base "Abelman 1997 GFL29".
There is a tool mark on the side resembling stitches, but this is
inside the glass and is not damage. It is absolutely
spectacular. Note on colors: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph because of the strong iridescence. The color of the glass would gradually change as the angle of illumination or the angle of view changed. Stuart Abelman studied glass at
Carnegie Mellon University and in the Master of Fine Arts
program at UCLA (California). He taught a developed a flat
glass program for El Camino College and in 1977 opened his
Abelman Glass Studio in Van Nuys, CA. He worked with a
number of other glass artists in developing his style. Size: 2 9/16" diameter by 2 3/8" high. The
base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 9/3/3021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4889 | Perthshire Annual Collection 2000A Limited
Edition Bouquet in Basket Paperweight.
circa 2000. This paperweight features a bouquet of two amber
flowers, two pink buds, and green leaves inside a pristine double
basket of millefiori canes. The inner basket consists of dark
blue millefiori canes. The outer basket consists of
alternating pink and green millefiori canes. The paperweight
is faceted with a large top facet and five side facets. It is
signed with an engraved "P" in the center of the base. This
design was made in a limited edition of 250 paperweights only in
2000. A nice crisp design with great color. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 2000. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 2000, designated A through G plus a Special Limited Edition which had no letter designation. This design is designated 2000A. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 2 7/16" diameter by 1 1/2" high.
The base is fire finished and engraved with the letter "P".
The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five side
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 9/1/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1693 | Rare Chinese Scramble Paperweight with
"MADE IN CHINA" Signature Canes. circa 1930. An
entertaining addition from China. Since this style was
intended to be a copy of a French scramble or end of day weight from
1845-1860 (probably St. Louis or Clichy), it leaves you wondering
why they chose to add the "MADE IN CHINA" canes at the bottom.
Perhaps it was a response to the US customs requirement that goods
be marked with the country of origin in English starting about
1930. Some importers complied by scratch signing the word
CHINA on the bottom. In any event, this is a rare and welcome
addition to any collection of Chinese paperweights. As
with most Chinese paperweights, this paperweight has a light
weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish
tinge. The glass has a soft oily feel and there
are some light scratches. This example is especially
colorful with a nice variety of twist cans and millefiori slices. Special thanks to another collector who
pointed out that the words are actually word canes rather than
painted plaques. The lettering goes all the way through
the white background from top to bottom. You can see the
letters in reverse from the bottom. This is in contrast to
a painted plaque where the letters would be visible on only the
top surface. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the 1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the 1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free of debris.
Small Size: Just over 2 1/16 diameter by just
over 1 1/16" high. The base is fire finished
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 8/30/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4281 | Large Whitefriars Faceted Six Ring Red
White & Blue Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. dated
1975. This paperweight has six concentric rings of red, white,
and blue millefiori canes around a center cane with a star
center. The ground is clear crystal. Typical heavy
Whitefriars lead crystal. The paperweight is faceted with a
large top facet and five large side facets. It has a
Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1975 in
the outermost white ring (the fifth ring from the center) and also
has a paper label used starting in 1970. With its bold colors,
this is a very nice addition to any collection of millefiori
paperweights. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for awhile. Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 1 7/8" high.
The base is ground concave. Faceted with a total of one
large top facet and five large side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 8/29/2021 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. 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. Added 8/28/2021 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. 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 Mόnster 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. Added 8/27/2021 For more information about Bohemian paperweights, see my Bohemian
Paperweights
Web Page
.
(dl-boh-ant) |
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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. Added 8/26/2021 For more information about Bohemian paperweights, see my Bohemian
Paperweights
Web Page
.
(dl-boh-ant) |
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4748 | Miniature 1930s Chinese Millefiori
Brushholder Paperweight - Aladdin's Lamp Shape.
c.1930-1940. This is another uniquely Chinese invention,
although one that adopted the use of millefiori found in
paperweights from other countries. This has also been
described as a chopstick holder. Novelty items like this
started appearing in the US in the 1930s and some were sold at the
1939 World's Fair. I call this shape the Aladdin's lamp
shape. A fun collectible. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from this period have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Size: 2 1/2 long by 1 1/2" tall by 1 7/16"
deep. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$35 postage paid in the US. Added 8/20/2021 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5349 | Francis Whittemore Pink Cyclamen Flower
with Leaves and Bud Paperweight. circa 1969. This
paperweight features a pink cyclamen flower and bud with two green
leaves and stems. Signed on the back of a leaf with an early
Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a
yellow background. The design is placed on a translucent green
ground. There is an edition number "53" engraved on the base,
but I was unable to determine the edition size. A beautiful
example. This paperweight is shown in the Leo Kaplan Ltd. catalog on the 9/85 insert. M210 is described as a "Pink cyclamen on translucent green ground $400". Note: The highly reflective surface and high dome made this a difficult paperweight to photograph. There are extra shadows and objects in the pictures that are not in the paperweight. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: Just under 2 7/16" diameter by 2"
high. The bottom is ground flat. The edition number "53" is
engraved on the base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 8/19/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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1472 | Unusual Miniature Chinese Mosaic
Millefiori Paperweight with Rose Cane. circa
1950-70. Unusual Chinese millefiori with mosaic canes.
There are red and yellow star canes surrounded by leaf canes and a
single rose cane. I have no idea what the pattern is supposed
to represent. Very little is known about this style.
Other examples have a butterfly pattern and some have Chinese
writing in the design. The style is believed to be from
1950-1970.
Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the earliest period (1930-1950) have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. This paperweight has a slightly better glass, but it is not crystal clear like modern paperweights. Miniature Size: 1 13/16" diameter by 1 1/2"
high. The bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$39 postage paid in the US. Added 8/17/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3669 | St. Louis 1953 Queen Elizabeth II
Coronation Sulphide Paperweight on Rare Rose Petal
Ground. dated 1953. This is a St. Louis
sulphide paperweight featuring a ceramic image of Queen Elizabeth II
set on a rare red and white rose petal over white ground and
surrounded by a garland of red and white millefiori canes. The
ground in this paperweight is also called red over marble. It
is signed with an upside down complex St. Louis signature / date
cane in the garland "SL 1953" and also signed on the base with an
impressed mark "COURONNEMENT 2-6-53
SAINT-LOUIS-FRANCE". The sulphide has been treated to produce
a silver finish. An early example of St. Louis artistic
accomplishment. It is faceted with a large top facet and five
side facets. A significant historical paperweight.
According to the two books on St. Louis paperweights, the QE II sulphide was issued in an edition of 1,226 regular sulphides on a variety of grounds and with and without millefiori garlands. There were also some overlay versions produced. Not all were marked with the special COURONNEMENT mark. This was St. Louis earliest modern sulphide and one of the company's earliest modern paperweights. It was much in demand and the famous French writer Colette requested one for her collection. Note on fractures in the white ground layer: The rose petal ground is created using red and white layers of frit. Unfortunately the two colors were incompatible and the white under layer contains a few thin fractures. They are hard to see without magnification but I have included a picture showing some of the fractures. I suspect this manufacturing problem caused St. Louis to produce very few paperweights in this color combination. Please keep in mind that this was their earliest modern sulphide. 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. Often a sulphide will have a silvery appearance due to a thin layer of trapped bubbles between the glass and the sulphide itself. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in 1766. The region was already home to several glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in 1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small. Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or dated. The most successful product of this early revival period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In 1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual limited edition paperweights. Large Size: 2 15/16" diameter by 1 11/16"
high. The bottom is ground concave. It is faceted with
a large top facet and five side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 8/15/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis factory, see my St. Louis Web Page (dl-sl-sul) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4850 | Magnum Baccarat 1975 Gridel Series
Pheasant Concentric Millefiori Limited Edition
Paperweight. dated 1975. This modern three
ring concentric millefiori paperweight features a large white
pheasant silhouette on a black background in the center. This
large center cane is surrounded by a circle of yellow millefiori
canes. The middle ring of canes has seventeen small Gridel
canes plus a Baccarat "B 1975" signature / date cane. The
pheasant Gridel appears only in the center, not in the middle
ring. The design is set on a transparent blue ground. In
addition to the Baccarat signature / date cane, this paperweight has
an acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the engraved
year (1975) and engraved edition number (46). This is a nice
balanced design. A beautiful addition to any collection of
Baccarat paperweights. This design was released in 1975 in a limited edition of 350 pieces. This is number 46 in that series. There is a signature / date cane "B 1975" shown in the pictures. The base has an acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1975) and the edition number (46). In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other figures included in the design. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. 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 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. Very large size: 3 3/16" diameter by 2 3/8"
high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 8/14/2021 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5183 | Josh Simpson Miniature Gravitron
Planet Marble with Stand. This a
miniature (just under 2" diameter) Gravitron planet marble made by
Josh Simpson. Gravitrons evoke deep
space phenomena such as black holes and the warping of
space-time.
They represent planets that wander too near a black hole, where
they are twisted and squashed by unfathomably intense
gravity. Josh captures the instant when these unfortunate
planets have been almost consumed and all that remains is a
memory and a puff of X-ray light. Although clear glass, the
controlled bubbles sometimes have an iridescent color. Some
of the bubbles have a speck of amber color, which is exaggerated
by my lights. An acrylic 2"
tall by 1 1/2" by 1 5/16" dimple stand is included. This
example is unsigned. Josh Simpson has been making magical glass objects including paperweights for over 40 years. He has long had a fascination with space exploration and is married to Astronaut Cady Coleman. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and has his own glass studio in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. He focuses on creating objects with a range of color, form, contrast, iridescence, tessellating patterns and complexity. There is a great book Josh Simpson: Glass Artist by Andrew Chaikin. I recommend it highly. Miniature Size: 1 15/16" diameter glass
sphere. The acrylic stand is 2" tall by 1 1/2" by 1 5/16". For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 7/14/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5017 | Late Ysart Brothers or Early Vasart
Paneled Millefiori Paperweight - Many Annealing Cracks.
circa 1952-1956. This colorful paperweight consists of a
paneled millefiori pattern with eight sections with 1 green +2 brown
millefiori canes each separated by a red and blue twist cane.
There is a central cluster of two rings of canes, 15 blue and 5
orange canes, around a central cross cane. The design is set
on a clear ground. The glass is slightly
gray. Unfortunately this paperweight is filled with many
internal annealing fractures / cracks. See the note below for
more information on the cause. An interesting historical
addition to any collection of Scottish paperweights. Note on annealing fractures / cracks: According to David Moir, who was an apprentice at the Ysart Brothers Shore Road works in 1954, the glass works had a lot of annealing problems at the Shore Road factory because it was fired with poor quality coke. It was difficult to maintain a level annealing temperature and sometimes would get too hot or too cold. Temperature was judged by putting your arm inside the oven to feel the heat. The problem was solved when George Dunlop (owner of Pirelli Glass in London) brought in fresh capital, equipment, and orders. This included an electrically controlled second-hand kiln from Rolls Royce which was a vast improvement on the old one and had electric temperature gauges. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. Paul Ysart (1904-1991), originally Pablo Moreno Isart, was apprenticed to his father as a glass worker at Moncrieff in 1922. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955. Shortly later, George Dunlop, the owner of Pirelli Glass in London, brought in fresh capital, equipment, and orders. Vincent Ysart and George Dunlop formed a new company in 1956, Vasart Glass Ltd. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. The factory was taken over by Stuart Glass in 1980, and renamed Stuart Strathearn Ltd. Production ceased in 1992. Size: Just under 3" diameter by 1 15/16"
high. The base is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 7/14/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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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. Added 7/10/2021 For more information about antique paperweights see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5278 | Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature
Paperweight with White and Blue Millefiori Flowers on a Pink
Ground. circa 1962 - 1969. This very early
paperweight by Francis Whittemore features five small white
millefiori flowers with blue star centers. There is also a
stem and two green leaves. The design is placed on a powdery
pink ground. This paperweight is signed in the design with an
early Whittemore signature cane, a black "W" on a yellow
background. This is an important early example of
Francis Whittemore's work and worthy of any collection of Whittemore
paperweights. Note: This paperweight is almost the same as the examples offered in Larry Selman's first two editions of "CATALOGUE OF COLLECTORS' PAPERWEIGHTS". See the 1970 Catalog (robins egg blue cover) or the 1971 Catalog (olive green cover). Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 3/8" diameter by 1 1/8" high. This paperweight has a very low profile. The base is flat with a concave center.Signature: Signed in the design with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background. Condition: Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. There are many bubbles in the ground and a few striations in the glass. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$165 postage paid in the US. Added 7/10/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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4877 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1983C Limited
Edition Posy Ring Paperweight. dated
1983. This paperweight features five small florets (flower
canes) and five pairs of green leaves all on a circular stem.
The posy ring is surrounded by a garland of alternating yellow and
blue millefiori canes on a white lace ground. The paperweight
is faceted with one large top facet and twenty eight side facets in
three rows of eight, ten, and ten facets. It is signed with a
"P1983" signature / date cane on the base. It also has a
slightly worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND"
on the base. This paperweight was made in a limited edition of
300 paperweights of which only 187 were made. A nice crisp
design with great color and a fancy cutting. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1983. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1983, designated A through G. This design is designated 1981C. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2 15/16" high.
The bottom is ground concave. The paperweight is faceted
with one large top facet and twenty eight side facets in three
rows of eight, ten, and ten facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 7/6/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4587 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1981F Limited
Edition Magnum Crown and Basket Paperweight. dated
1981. This is an absolutely fantastic crown paperweight.
It features a six petal amber flower with a complex millefiori
center and six green leaves (sepals) on top. The flower
is set on a wonderful spiral latticinio cushion. The crown
staves are made of alternating blue-green and white twist canes,
thirty in all. There is a further encasement in glass that
gives this the impression of a paperweight within a
paperweight. It is signed on the base with a "P 1981"
Perthshire signature / date cane. It also has a slightly worn
paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the
base. This paperweight is one of a limited edition of 200
weights, of which 193 were made. The paperweight has large
facet on top, which allows a full view of the inner sphere. A
beautiful paperweight with perfect execution.
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1981. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1981, designated A through H. This design is designated 1981F. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955. The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). This inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Very large size: Just under 3 1/4" diameter by 2
5/16" high. It has one large facet on the top. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$745 postage paid in the US. Added 7/4/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4571 | Magnum Murano Faceted Double Overlay Six
Row Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1960-1970. A wonderful Murano six row concentric millefiori
paperweight with a double overlay of red and white glass. The
concentric design is rounded so it is visible through the side
facets as well as the top. This paperweight is faceted with
one large top facet and five side facets. The bottom is ground
flat and finished with a grid cut. Probably made in the 1960s
by Fratelli Toso. A classic design. Note: There is a faint 3/16" circular impact mark on the red overlay near the base and also a few faint scratches in the overlay. One of the pictures points out the impact mark with an arrow. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Very Large Size: Just under 3 3/16" diameter
by 1 13/16" high. The base ground flat and finished with a
grid cut. This paperweight is faceted with one large top
facet and five smaller side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. New Price 6/27/2021 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4712 | Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted
Pedestal Spider Lily Paperweight with Opaque Red Ground. circa
1960-1980. This is a miniature pedestal paperweight with a
turquoise and white spider lily and four leaves on a rich dark red
ground. The flower has a turquoise stripe on each petal and
the stamen is a yellow millefiori cane. Each leaf is a double
leaf - two leaves with a clear layer joining them so a bit of the
red ground shows through. This makes it look like each leaf
has a red stripe down the center. The paperweight is tilted at
a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully. Signed on the
white underside of the red ground with a gold K.
This design was Charles Kaziun's signature design and one of the most popular with collectors. This size and style was often referred to as a #1. Charles Kaziun Jr. was one of the most famous of the American paperweight artists. He is often credited with contributing to the rebirth of interest in paperweight making. He made paperweights from the 1940s until his death in 1992. His weights are usually signed with a gold K or a special millefiori cane containing a K. You can read about him in many books, including: Signature: Signed on the white underside of the red ground with Kaziun's gold K. Condition: Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$245 postage paid in the US. New Price 6/25/2021 For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4721 | Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted
Pedestal Light Blue Spider Lily Paperweight with Aventurine
Ground. circa 1960-1980. This is a miniature
pedestal paperweight with a light blue spider lily and four green
leaves on an opaque aventurine ground. The flower has a red
stripe on each petal and the center is a complex millefiori cane
made up of seven star shaped millefiori canes (three blue, three
yellow, and a slightly orange center). Each leaf is a double
leaf - two leaves with a clear layer joining them so a bit of the
ground shows through. This makes it look like each leaf has an
aventurine stripe down the center. The aventurine ground is
set on a brown base and a white under-layer. The paperweight
is tilted at a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully.
Signed on the white underside of the ground with a gold K.
This design was Charles Kaziun's signature design and one of the most popular with collectors. This size and style was often referred to as a #1. Charles Kaziun Jr. was one of the most famous of the American paperweight artists. He is often credited with contributing to the rebirth of interest in paperweight making. He made paperweights from the 1940s until his death in 1992. His weights are usually signed with a gold K or a special millefiori cane containing a K. You can read about him in many books, including: Signature: Signed on the white underside of the aventurine ground with Kaziun's gold K. Condition: Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$245 postage paid in the US. New Price 6/25/2021 For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2276 | Vintage American "FROM A FRIEND" Frit
Paperweight - Probably Made by Gentile Glass. circa
1900-1974. This frit paperweight features a "FROM A FRIEND"
message in white frit with an outer wreath garland. The design
is placed over a multi-colored ground of larger glass chips. A
great gift item to raise a friend's spirits. This example in
unsigned but I suspect it was made at Gentile Glass in Star City,
West Virginia based on the shape and bottom finish. An
identical example of the paperweight and the die used to produce the
design are shown in American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers
(1970) by Jean Melvin (see pages 69 - 71). This is a
great addition to any collection of American paperweights. The Melvin book mentions that the motto weights like the "FROM A FRIEND" paperweight were popular items sold to distributors and gift shops throughout the US and Canada. The dies were originally used by Peter Gentile when he worked at the Fry Factory in Rochester, NY and continued to be used by the Gentile factory once they started their own factory. This style of paperweight was made by many glass companies throughout the glass producing areas of the midwestern US (Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, or even New Jersey) in the first half of the 20th century and later. Frit refers to the powdered glass used to make the design. The design is set up in a metal die and then picked up with a gather of a ground color. Sometimes the maker can be identified by researching the mold or die used to set up the design. According to Newell's Old Glass Paperweights of Southern New Jersey , frit weights were made as early as 1863. Newell identifies this style as a true folk art. The original glass worker in the Gentile
family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in
1884. He worked in Naples(Italy), Rochester
(Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building
his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.
Originally the factory was a short-lived partnership (G. and F.
Glass Co.) with John Funfrock, a mold maker. His sons,
Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in
the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown. However,
most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with
Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile. Few weights
were signed prior to 1963. John Gentile passed away in
2006 and it is believed that Gentile Glass closed down after his
death. Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975
on were signed. For more information, you can read about
the Gentile Family in the book American Glass Paperweights
and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970). Large Size: 3 5/16" diameter by 2 3/4" high.
The base is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$79 postage paid in the US. Added 6/24/2021 For more information about Gentile paperweights, see my Gentile Paperweights Web Page. (dl-g-va) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1377 | Baccarat 1988 Four Row Open Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight. dated 1988. This
paperweight has an open concentric design with four rows of colorful
millefiori around a central millefiori cane. The design is
placed over a clear ground. It is signed with an etched
Baccarat logo on the base. It also has a Baccarat "B1988"
signature / date cane in the outermost row. A fantastic
example of a modern open concentric from Baccarat. 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 started making modern millefiori paperweights in 1957. According to Paul Dunlop ( Baccarat Paperweights: Two Centuries of Beauty ), Baccarat started making the modern spaced millefiori paperweights on muslin or lace in 1958 and continued making undated examples until the limited editions were started in 1970. The exception is 1964 when special versions were produced for Baccarat's 200th anniversary. Size: 2 11/16 diameter by 2 1/16 high. The
base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$285 postage paid in the US. Added 6/19/2021 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5355 | Large Antique New England Glass Company
Millefiori Nosegay or Posy Paperweight. circa
1860. This is an unusually large antique New England Glass
Company (NEGC) Millefiori Nosegay with three white millefiori
flowers and a double latticinio ground. The three flower
nosegay has four green leaves typical of NEGC. The design is
set on an exquisite swirling double latticinio ground. It is
unusual to find a NEGC nosegay with white flowers. The three
millefiori canes that make up the nosegay are slightly
smudged. There are some bubbles in the glass and in the
latticinio. This paperweight has scratches on the dome and
considerable wear on the base. There is plenty of glass and it
could be restored. An interesting paperweight that shows the
classic NEGC setup.
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 15/16 diameter by 1 13/16 high.
The bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 6/19/2021 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5250 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1975E
Limited Edition Green Overlay Millefiori Paperweight Bottle with
Original Box. This is a tall bottle with a green flash
overlay and a three ring concentric millefiori pattern base.
The concentric millefiori pattern consists of all complex millefiori
canes. There is a center complex cane that matches the single
millefiori cane in the stopper. The bottle has 24 side facets
arranged in three rows. The stopper has a matching green flash
overlay with eight side facets arranged in two rows. The
stopper has a single complex millefiori cane which matches the
center cane in the base. This bottle is signed with a
Perthshire "P1975" signature / date cane in the base. It also
has a Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF
SCOTLAND" on the base and comes with its original fitted satin lined
box. This design was made with a green or blue overlay and
offered in a limited edition of 350 bottles of which 347 were
made. I do not have the original certificate. This is a
great addition to any collection of paperweight related items. Perthshire made this paperweight bottle as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1975. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were five Annual Collection designs in 1975, designated A through E. This design is designated 1975E. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: Just under 3 1/8" diameter by just under
7 1/2" high with the stopper. The bottle is 5 3/4" tall
without the stopper. The stopper is 1 9/16" diameter by 2
5/8" long. The base is ground concave in the center.
The bottle has 24 side facets and the stopper has eight side
facets. The box is 8" long by just under 5 1/2" wide by 3
7/8" tall. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 6/15/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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345 | Colorful Surface Decorated Hollow
Paperweight - Unknown Maker. This surface
decorated paperweight is hollow blown rather than solid. The
colorful decorations are tactile and can be felt on the
surface. There is a hole in the base left over from the
blowing process. Signed KO on the base but the maker is
unknown. A fun paperweight. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Size: Just over 2 7/8" diameter by just over 2"
high. The base has been polished concave. The surface
is a little irregular There is a hole in the base left from the
blowing process. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$44 postage paid in the US. Added 6/13/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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778 | Miniature Art Glass Carpet Ground
Millefiori Paperweight - Unknown Maker. This art
glass miniature millefiori paperweight consists of identical red,
white, and pink cogged millefiori, although it looks like there may
be some filler pieces added to complete the carpet. The maker
is unknown. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Very small size: 2" diameter by 1 1/4" high.
The base has been polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 6/12/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1749 | Small Degenhart Name Paperweight Knob -
probably from a Gearshift. circa 1930-40. This is
a Degenhart paperweight personalized with the owner's name
"M.A.Archuleta"written on a white plaque. It has the typical
Degenhart construction with the plaque outlined in blue and with
four little colored icepick flowers placed at the edge of the
plaque. This one has two red flowers and two yellow
flowers. There is a colorful frit layer at the same level as
the plaque. This paperweight has a glass stub on the base and
was most likely broken off from the metal fitting of a Degenhart
gearshift. It has sufficient wear / scratches to indicate that
it was actually used as a gearshift knob. Charles and John Degenhart patented the design for a glass gearshift knob on August 20, 1929. The glass paperweight would be mounted on a threaded metal fitting. Some examples have the patent date on the fitting "PAT. 8-20-29" on the side of the metal fitting. Knobs with a location are rarer than those with just a name. Note: The glass in this paperweight is clear but it shows a pink tint in the pictures. Maybe the glass is sensitive to the type of lighting used, similar to the way Alexandrite or Neodymium Glass change color, but the behavior is different. Probably it is picking up the pink in the frit layer. Charles and John Degenhart started
their careers in glass working in glass at the Dalzell, Gilmore
& Leighton Company factory in Findlay, Ohio. Charles,
born in 1882, started first and then John, born in 1884, started
at the age of ten in 1894. In 1901, both joined Cambridge
Glass in Cambridge, Ohio. The original paperweight
production was an after hours activity at Cambridge Glass by
Charles and his two sons in the 1920s. John also produced
paperweights to help meet the demand. This was with the
approval of the company. Of the two, Charles Degenhart was the
more skilled artistically. Size: 2" diameter by 1 1/2" high. The base
has a glass stub. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the
following links: Large
picture $45 postage paid in the US. Added 6/11/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Degenhart Glass in Cambridge, Ohio, see my Degenhart Web Page
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3584 |
Early Chris Buzzini Bridgeton Studio
Angelfish and Millefiori Flowers Paperweight. dated
1978. Contemporary surface decorated paperweight created by
Chris Buzzini of Bridgeton Studio. The paperweight has three
red and white angelfish swimming among vines with four orange
millefiori flowers and green leaves. There is also a pulled
feather design resembling waves. Underneath there is a opaque
white ground. The entire design is encased in a clear glass
layer adding depth. Signed "BRIDGETON STUDIO '78 FS057
BUZZINI" on the base. An early paperweight by one of the
country's most talented glass artists. Chris Buzzini studied at Shasta Junior College in Redding, CA and California State University at Chico, CA. While at Shasta, Chris was exposed to glassblowing for the first time by Chris Sowder (1970). Buzzini pursued glassblowing, eventually setting up his own backyard studio. From 1972 to 1975, Chris worked at Orient & Flume Art Glass in Chico, CA. Later from 1976 to 1978, he operated a glass studio Bridgeton Studio in New Jersey with the backing of a collector and a partner. While at Bridgeton, Chris had two helpers (Allan Ziegler and Fritz Willie) who learned on the job. Chris did the designs. When Ziegler or Willie helped Chris make the paperweight, their name was often included in the signature. Eventually Chris moved back to California and worked at Lundberg Studios and Correia Art Glass. Since 1986 he has been an independent studio artist. His designs often sell for several thousand dollars. Large Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 2 9/16" high.
The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$185 postage paid in the US. Added 6/8/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5187 | Art Glass Ascending Staircase Sculpture
Paperweight - Signed. dated 2002. This art glass
sculpture is composed of glass rectangles with colored circles
between them. There are ten 1" x 2" rectangles that make up
the staircase or spiral, plus a 2 1/2" square first step, a 3"
square base and 3" square top, for thirteen glass pieces in
all. It is signed on the base "M+J G '02", but the
maker's name is unknown. A fun item. Note about condition: Several of the smaller rectangles that make up the steps have chips, all but one of which are minor. The worst chip is 1/4" long and is shown in the pictures. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Size: 3" by 3" by just over 2 7/8" high. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$79 postage paid in the US. Added 6/1/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3437 | Large Colorful Strathearn Paneled
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1963-1968. This very
attractive paperweight consists of a paneled millefiori pattern with
nine panels of 1 (white) + 2 (yellow) + 2 (pink) millefiori patterns
each separated by a white latticinio twist cane. There is a
central ring of seven dark green millefiori canes and then a
center orange millefiori cane. The canes are early Scottish
millefiori canes on a translucent blue ground. This is a great
addition to any collection of Scottish paperweights. Great
color. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. The company is no longer in existence. Size: 3 1/16 diameter by 2 5/16 high.
The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 5/29/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4964 | Dramatic Daum Egg Shaped Floral
Paperweight from France. undated. This
egg shaped paperweight features a very dark brown (nearly black) and
white fan shaped stylized flower with large bubble in the
center. The stem is orange and dark brown and the design is
placed above a clear bubble ground. A very modern creation, it
is signed "Daum France" in script near the base. It also has
its original label "cristal DAUM". A dramatic paperweight in
near perfect condition. Daum Frθres was founded in 1878 in Nancy, France by an attorney named Jean Daum, when he took over a glass factory in lieu of repayment on a debt. The company's product line has gone through many iterations since and this egg shaped paperweight is a modern product, produced sometime after 1970. It is not in the current catalog. The company still manufactures art glass in downtown of Nancy and a nearby village Vannes-le-Chβtel. Everything is handmade. There are more than 600 Daum Art Glass items in the Daum Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy (Nancy Musιe des Beaux-Arts) that documents the history of glass manufacturing from the 1880s through the 1990s. Size : 2 5/16 diameter by 3 1/16" high.
The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 5/29/2021 For more paperweights from France and other countries, see my Other Countries Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5259 | Set of St. Louis Paperweight Style Letter
Seals Limited Edition with Original Box and Certificates. dated
1974. This is pair of St. Louis paperweight style letter
seals, one red with a white stripe and one blue with a white
stripe. The bases are flat and blank, ready to be engraved to
create your own custom letter seals. Each handle is hollow
blown with white pinstripe twists. These letter seals were
issued in 1974 in limited editions of 500 of each color and were
sold individually and in boxed sets. This set comes with its
original (although distressed) St. Louis presentation box and
original certificates. Each seal is signed on the top of the
base with an etched signature "1974 S. LOUIS France". A great
addition to any collection of modern French paperweights.
Cristalleries de Saint Louis was
founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in
1766. The region was already home to several
glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in
1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although
the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the
output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small.
Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made
between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or
dated. The most successful product of this early revival
period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to
commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no
additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In
1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori
paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide
weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual
limited edition paperweights. Size: Each letter seal is 4 5/16" tall. The
blue seal has a base diameter of just under 1 1/2". The red
is slightly thinner with a base diameter of 1 7/16". The
base of each seal is flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$185 postage paid in the US. Added 5/28/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis glass factory in France, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4891 | Perthshire Annual Collection 2000F
Limited Edition End of Day Faceted Mushroom Paperweight.
This paperweight features an end of day or tightly packed complex
millefiori design pulled down to form a mushroom. There are
five picture canes placed in the design with a Perthshire "P2000"
signature / date cane in the center. It is also signed with an
engraved "P" on the edge of the base. The five picture canes
are a crab, dog (scottie), deer (stag), dog (dalmatian), and a bird
(wren). The design is set over a clear ground. The
paperweight is finished with a large top facet and ten side facets
arranged in two rows. The base is cut with a fancy fan cut,
also called a 20 point star. This design was made in a limited
edition of 175 paperweights. It comes with its original
box. There is no paper label on this example and I do not have
the original certificate. A nice crisp design with great
execution. This is a very desirable paperweight made in last
few years of Perthshire's operation. Note: Although Perthshire called this an end of day paperweight, it is really a carefully close packed design of complex millefiori canes, not a scramble in the usual sense. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 2000. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 2000, designated A through G plus one additional special design. This paperweight is designated 2000F. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: Just under 3" diameter by just under 2
7/8" high. The base is ground concave and finished with a 20
point fan cut. This paperweight has one large top facet and
ten side facets in two rows. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 5/26/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2850 | Unsigned Miniature Lampwork Flower
Paperweight, possibly by Ronald Hansen.
undated. This miniature paperweight features a six petal
lampwork flower with leaves and stem. The petals are yellow
with orange stripes. There are five variegated sepals and plus
two leaves and a stem. It has a low profile. Nicely
executed, it has an unusual amber ground placed over a white button
base (see picture of the base). Definitely the work of a
talented artist. Possibly by Ronald Hansen. Note: The maker of paperweight is unknown, but it is possibly by Ronald Hansen who made paperweights from the late 1950s to 1971. Ronald E. Hansen was born in Virginia, Minnesota in 1910. He was first exposed to glass lampwork as a child when he was befriended by Bohemian glassworkers in a "hobo village" making glass ships. He later worked as the director of the Neon Tube School in Detroit, Michigan. With this exposure, he was aware of the artistic and technical aspects of glassworking. He established his own studio in Mackinaw City, Michigan, mixed his own colors and glass, and created a variety of small glass paperweights, most of which are 2 1/2" or less in diameter. He made paperweights from the late 1950s to 1971. He was one of a number of glass artists in this paperweight making family. His nephew, Eric Hansen, continues the art today. You can read more about Ronald E. Hansen in the book American Glass Paperweights and their makers by Jean Melvin (1970 Revised edition) or the article by Nancy Alfano in the 2004 PCA Bulletin. Very small size: Low profile, 1 15/16" diameter by just over 1" high. The base is ground flat with a frosted finish.Signature: Unsigned. I believe this paperweight was made by Ronald Hansen, but have been unable to confirm this ID. Condition: Very good condition with a few faint scratches or scuffed areas. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 5/17/2021 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4382 | Robert Banford Blue Double Clematis
with Buds Double Overlay Faceted Paperweight with Fancy Base
Cutting. circa 1987. This paperweight
features a wonderful dark blue double clematis with a yellow center
and two companion buds, one open and the other still closed.
It is has many green leaves and a stem. The design is set on a
clear ground and encased with a brilliant red and white double
overlay. It is faceted with a large top facet and six side
facets. In addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower
portion below the facets. The paperweight is signed with Bob
Banfords B signature cane at the tip of the stem. I believe
this is part of Bob Banford's 1987 Collection and the cutting is by
Ed Poore. A very desirable addition to any collection of
contemporary American paperweights.
Note on condition: There is a 1/8" nick or tool mark just above the fancy cutting. It is barely visible, but I mention this for completeness and provide a much magnified picture. No other flaws found on inspection. Robert Banford worked in Hammonton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his father, Ray Banford. Bob continued to make paperweights until 2006. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights, but it is sometimes possible to get an idea of when a paperweight was made by the progression of styles and the type of glass used. Bob Banford used a signature cane with a red "B" and a blue surround. Ray Banford used a different signature cane with a black B. Ray passed away in 2003.
Size: 2 15/16" diameter by just over 2 1/8"
high. The bottom is ground slightly concave. It is
faceted with a large top facet and six side facets. In
addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower portion below the
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$950 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. Added 5/13/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3794 | Colorful Magnum Rollin Karg Three Sided
Paperweight. circa 1983 to 2000. This is an
interesting three sided sculptural paperweight with inner
folds. Primarily blue, most of the surface has colored spots
of pinks, reds, and browns. One side has an area that is
dichroic. It is signed "KARG" on the side near the base. Extra
large. A fun paperweight.
Rollin Karg spent the first part of his career as an industrial engineer, photographer, potter and woodworker before becoming a full time glass artist in 1983. He studied hot glass at Emporia State University (Kansas) and built his first glassblowing furnace there. Today he owns a studio and gallery in Kechi, Kansas. Very large size: Three sided shape. 3 1/2" at
the widest by 2 13/16" tall. The base is ground flat.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$79 postage paid in the US. Added 4/21/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4583 | Large St. Louis 1976 Bicentennial George
Washington on Horseback Gold Inclusion Paperweight.
dated 1976. This paperweight features a gold foil inclusion of
General George Washington on his horse surrounded by thirteen
millefiori stars, one of which is a complex St. Louis signature /
date cane "SL 1976". The design is placed on an opaque blue
ground and is faceted with one large top facet and five side
facets. Sculpted into the ground below the horse's feet are
the dates "1776 - 1976". In addition to the signature cane,
the paperweight has its original "CRISTAL SAINT LOUIS FRANCE" foil
label and comes with its original certificate of authenticity.
This paperweight is number 133 out of a limited edition of 650
paperweights. A wonderful paperweight in perfect
condition.
According to the two books on St. Louis paperweights, this is the first modern St. Louis paperweight to have gold inclusions. It was created for the US Bicentennial in 1976 and considered a special accomplishment. The inclusion / medal was created from a drawing by Remy Hetreau of Arthus Bertrand Co., Paris. One of the paperweights was given to President and Mrs. Ford as a symbol of Franco-American friendship. Two versions of this design were created, 250 regular and 400 with a double overlay, for a total of 650 copies. All copies were limited to US distribution. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in 1766. The region was already home to several glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in 1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small. Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or dated. The most successful product of this early revival period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In 1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual limited edition paperweights. In addition to the three types already mentioned, millefiori, lampwork, and sulphide paperweights, St. Louis also made a small number of designs with gold inclusions. Large Size : Just under 3 1/8" diameter by 2 1/16"
high. The bottom is ground concave. It is faceted with
one large top facet and five side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 4/21/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis factory, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4040 | Large Strathearn Eight Pointed Star
Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Orange Ground.
circa 1963-1968. This paperweight is finished as a eight
pointed star. The star points give the glass a glittery
appearance. It features a paneled millefiori design with seven
panels of 1+1+2 millefiori patterns each separated by a white
latticinio twist cane. There is a central ring of six
millefiori canes and then a center millefiori cane. The canes
are early Scottish millefiori canes on an opaque orange
ground. A great addition to any collection of Scottish
glass. This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape. The top is flattened. The star points give the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Size: 2 3/4 diameter by 1 3/16 high.
The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 4/19/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4039 | Joe Rice Magnum Multicolored Ribbon Crimp
Paperweight. circa 1987-2010. Multi-colored
stylized crimp flower in the unique St. Clair style. I refer
to this style as a rainbow ribbon crimp weight. It has has
eight pleats or crimps with a carefully placed bubble between
each. The design is off center in the paperweight. A
showy paperweight with great color. Very collectible. Similar examples are shown American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970) and the St. Clair Collectors Guide by Bonnie Pruitt. They were made by members of the St. Clair family and also by Joe Rice. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair. Joe Rice,a third generation
glassblower in the St. Clair family, is the grandson of John "Pop"
St. Clair, Sr. and nephew of a nephew of Joe St.
Clair and the other brothers mentioned above. His mother
Jane Rice was Joe St. Clair's sister. Joe Rice began
working at the family glass factory in 1962 at the age of
twelve. He worked with his uncles Joe, Ed, Bob, and Paul
after school hours and during the summer months. When the
estate of Bob St. Clair was ready for public auction in October
1987, Joe Rice was able to purchase the property along with
needed supplies and equipment. He reopened the factory as
the The House of Glass. His uncles Ed and Paul were there
to help guide him along his path to success. The House of
Glass continues to operate in Elwood, Indiana. Very large size: Just under 3 7/8" diameter by 2
3/8" high. The bottom is fire finished and hot stamped with
the signature. The paperweight weighs 29 ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 4/18/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair family, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4038 | Colorful Murano Figural Bird Paperweight -
Made From Twist Canes. circa 1960s - 1970s.
This paperweight is a good example of a Murano figural
paperweight. The bird is formed from seven colored twist canes
and seven alternating white latticinio twist canes with eyes and
beak added. The pink, green, blue, and yellow colored twist
canes have aventurine edges. Bright and colorful. A fun
paperweight. Note: Although this paperweight is beautifully made, there is some debris in the glass and there is some roughness at the end of the tail feathers - left by the tools used to snip the glass. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Size: Just under 3" long (beak to tail) by
diameter by 1 3/4" wide. The small base is polished
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 4/17/2021 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2968 | Richard Satava 1996 Flat Design Moon
Jellyfish Paperweight. dated 1996. This
moon jellyfish has an unusual flat shape with a veiled dome of amber
and and blue colors. Inside the dome are many colorful
delicate long tentacles or tendrils reaching down to the base.
The colors react to the viewing angle. Signed on the base
"Satava 3748-96". The artwork is truly amazing.
Richard Satava was introduced to glassblowing in 1969 while at Oceana High School in Pacifica, California. He subsequently studied art and glassblowing at the College of San Mateo and California State University, Chico. He also worked as a technician in the glass shop at CSU, Chico. In 1977 he founded Satava Art Glass in Chico, CA. His glass art has several themes, mostly focusing on inspiration from nature. During the 1990s he started to focus more attention on ocean life and nautical themes based on the jellyfish in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He has several different series of jellyfish, depicting them in upright and side swimming positions and also as an unusual flat depiction. Large size: 6 1/4" high by 4 1/16" wide by
approximately 1 15/16" deep. The back and base are polished
flat. This paperweight weighs two pounds eleven ounces (43
ounces). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/17/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4623 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1979C
Limited Edition Miniature Overlay Paperweight. This
paperweight features an upright six petaled red flower and leaves
within a double overlay of blue over white. It has one top
facet and eight side facets. The flower is very three
dimensional and should be viewed from the side. The base is
finished with a grid cut. It is signed with a complex "P"
signature cane in the center of the flower. This design is a
limited edition of 400 paperweights, of which only 351 were
made. Although Perthshire called this a miniature, it is
actually larger with a diameter of just under 2 5/16". There
is no paper label on this example. A nice crisp design with
great color. Note on condition: This paperweight has a 1/4" scratch on the overlay between two side facets below the widest point. I am offering it at a greatly reduced price. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1979. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1979, designated A through G. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Just under 2 5/16" diameter by just over 1
9/16" high. The base is ground concave and finished with a
grid cut. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 4/16/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4022 | Large Blue Iridescent Abstract Paperweight
with Gecko Pontil Stamp by Unknown Maker. dated
1999. This is a large mystery abstract iridescent blue
paperweight made by an unknown maker. The signature is legible
with the date 99 but I have not been able to identify the
maker. The pontil stamp is a long tailed lizard or gecko or
something similar. Not much I can say about the design - it is
a blue abstract blob. A mystery for future study. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Large Size: 2 7/8" diameter by 2 13/16" high.
The base is fire finished with a pontil stamp. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 4/14/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4328 | Rare Early Lundberg Studios Starry Night
with Bat or Dragonfly Paperweight. dated 1979.
Wonderful dark night theme with stars, waves and a bright colored
bat or possibly a dragonfly with a red body and tail and orange eyes
and wings flying over a body of swirling water. The ground is
an opalescent white. It is signed on the base "Lundberg
Studios 1979 LS92120". An amazing paperweight. Note: Special thanks to another collector who pointed out that this doesn't look like a bat and is probably a dragonfly. I agree that other Lundberg designs more closely resemble a bat. With the long coiled tail it doesn't look like a dragonfly either, so I don't know what it is supposed to be. Note2: Intentional or not, you can see the outlines of some of the millefiori canes used to make the stars. The surface is not completely smooth and shows traces of the surface work done to create the design. In 1970 James Lundberg founded a small "backyard" studio Nouveau Glass in San Jose, California. He was joined by his brother Steven Lundberg, Daniel Salazar, David Salazar, and several other glass artists. The first paperweights were made in 1972. They were known for their surface decorated designs and torchwork and later for their lampwork. In 1973 the firm was renamed Lundberg Studios and moved to Davenport, California. James died in an accident in 1991. Steven left Lundberg Studios in 1997 and set up his own studio. He died from ALS in 2008. Although in later years, each paperweight produced at Lundberg Studios was signed and dated by the studio and signed by the artist, the earliest paperweights did not have the artists signature. Large Size: Just under 2 3/4" diameter by just under
2 1/2" 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. Added 4/5/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4032 | Colorful Guernsey Island Studio
Paperweight with Silverplate Base by Sileda Ltd. dated
1986. This colorful glass paperweight was most likely
made by the Guernsey Island Studio (also known as Guernsey
Glass). The Sheffield silverplate base was added by Sileda
Ltd. (Wales) and has the silver marks indicating Sileda was the
maker of the base and it was made in 1986. There are several
discussions on the Internet about this type of paperweight and I was
able garner the basic facts about the makers and the date (see
below). The silver plate has been lost some of its silver
layer and the underlying copper is visible. There is a felt
cover in the center base. I did not remove the felt to see if
there was a Guernsey mark on the glass. This is an odd item,
but it will make a good conversation piece. Guernsey Island Studio (also known as Guernsey Glass) was located at the Oatlands Craft Centre, St Sampson, Guernsey, Channel Islands. It was founded about 1980 with advice and assistance from Michael Harris of the Isle of Wight Studio Glass. They made small souvenir pieces, such as vases, animal figures, and paperweights and often marked them on the base with the trademark Guernsey mark, which was three lions passant on a shield. They closed sometime in the 1990s. Sileda Ltd was founded in Cefn-y-bedd Wales UK about 1980. They were a small silver company that registered their punches at the Sheffield Assay Office from 1980 to 2000. The makers mark is "SL" with a small indent between the two letters. In addition to any other silver work they may have done, they were known for sourcing (purchasing) glass objects such as paperweights and vases from UK glass studios and adding silver enhancements or decorations to the glass objects. For paperweights, the enhancement was a silverplate base, for vases it was often a silver collar. In many cases, collectors could identify the original source of the glass object. Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 15/16" high. The
base is covered with a silverplate covering and a felt cover in
the center. I did not remove the felt to see if the Guernsey
mark is under the felt. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 4/3/2021 For more information about paperweights by English makers, see my English Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4406 | Francis Whittemore Blue Crimp Rose Upright
Pedestal Paperweight. circa 1970. This upright
pedestal paperweight features a magnificent blue crimp rose with
fifteen variegated blue petals and four upturned green sepals.
The petals are arranged in Whittemore's 4+4+4+3 crimp pattern.
It is signed on the underside of the rose with an early Whittemore
signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow
background. The design is set on a clear ground and supported
by a pedestal base. A fantastic addition to any collection of
glass paperweights. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, originally as a scientific glass maker and instructor in South Jersey. He did not start making paperweights until 1962 when he set up a studio in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 1 15/16" diameter by 2 7/16" high. The base of the pedestal has a 1 3/4" diameter. The bottom is ground concave.Signature: Signed on the underside of the rose with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background. Condition: Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$545 postage paid in the US. Added 3/30/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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4034 | Medium Colorful Strathearn Close Packed
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1963-1968. This is a
very attractive and colorful Strathearn close packed millefiori
paperweight. The design is placed over an opaque pink- beige
ground. A nice addition to any collection of Scottish
paperweights. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. The company is no longer in existence. Medium size: Just over 2 3/8 diameter by 2
1/16 high. The base is fire polished and ground concave in
the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$89 postage paid in the US. Added 3/27/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4031 | Large Maude and Bob 1976 Blue Icepick
Flower Candle Holder Paperweight. dated
1976. This large candle holder paperweight features five light
blue icepick flowers over an dark blue ground. As is typical
of the St. Clair style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the
center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the
ground in between each flower. There is a ribbed handle on one
side. It is hot stamped on the base "MAUDE AND BOB ST CLAIR
1976". Maude and Bob St. Clair produced paperweights under
their own label for less than fifteen years. A great addition
to any collection of St. Clair items. This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the icepick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. Note: In the pictures, the handle shows a yellow color. This is a reflection from something in my work area. The handle of the candle holder is clear colorless glass. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood. Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice. Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories. Bob St. Clair died in 1986. Joe St. Clair died in 1987. Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother, Paul St. Clair died in 2000. Robert (Bob) St. Clair was born May 18, 1919 and passed away in 1986. He is known to have used two signatures from 1971 to 1986. Most of the time he included his wife and used the stamp "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR", often with a date with raised lettering. Less frequently, he used the stamp "BOB ST. CLAIR" with no date. This stamp, with only BOB, can be found with either raised or indented lettering.
Size: The center paperweight portion is just under
3" diameter. With the handle and the cup for the candle it
is 4 1/16" wide by just under 3" deep by 3 1/16" high. The
base is finished flat and hot stamped in the center with the
signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 3/26/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4746 | Chris Sherwin Art Glass Black-Capped
Chickadee Paperweight. dated 2017. This
black-capped chickadee paperweight is a wonderful example of Chris
Sherwin's recent work. The figural paperweight was created for
a meeting of the Founders Chapter of the National American Glass
Club. It is signed on the base "Sherwin Art Glass 2017". The black-capped chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts and of Maine in the United States, and the provincial bird of New Brunswick in Canada. Chris Sherwin has worked in glass for 25 years, specializing in designs inspired by nature. Almost all of his work involves some aspect of torchwork decoration applied to the surface or encased torchwork creations. He makes his own glass and canes in his environmentally conscious hydro-powered studio. Chris studied glassblowing at Southern Connecticut State University and apprenticed at Simon Pearce. He also spent seven years at Orient & Flume Art Glass, an internationally renowned glass studio in Chico, CA known for their iridescent vases, intricate paperweights, and torchwork designs. At O&F he was able to create designs of his own and collaborative pieces that earned him a separate section in the O&F retail showroom. He opened his own studio in Bellows Falls, VT in 2005 and makes a variety of paperweights, vessels, animal sculptures, seasonal themed and other objects. Size: 3 7/8" long by 1 7/8" wide by just under 3
1/16" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 3/24/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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1851 | Rare Large Vasart or Strathearn Paneled
Millefiori Paperweight Pin Dish. circa 1946-1969.
This pin dish features a paneled millefiori design with seven panels
with a 1-2 cane pattern separated by colored twists over an orange
ground. There is a ring of pink canes with blue centers in the
center of the design. The dish is heavy with thick walls and a
depressed center. An interesting historical addition to any
collection of Scottish paperweights, Ysart glass or millefiori
collectibles.
Items like this were made by the many of the Scottish paperweight companies (Ysart Brothers, Vasart Glass, Strathearn Glass, or even Perthshire Paperweights). Some of the products made by Vasart were also sold with a Pirelli label. It is important to note that most pin dishes started off as a paperweight. The maker found a defect or problem and rather than stop, turned it into a pin dish. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Large Size: 3 7/8 diameter by 1 5/8 high.
The center well is 2 13/16" diameter. The base is fire
polished and the pontil mark is ground down. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 3/20/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4027 | Magnum Joe St. Clair Greentown Colors
Icepick Flower Paperweight. circa 1960-1970. This
very large paperweight features five beige and white ice-pick
flowers over an amber ground. As is typical of this style,
there is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and
also a carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each
flower. There is a layer of controlled bubbles surrounding the
design. This paperweight comes with the original two by four
inch Joe St. Clair information insert. It is hot stamped "JOE
ST CLAIR" on the bottom. A very flashy paperweight. This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. Note: In the 1960s the St. Clairs started making replicas of pressed items previously associated with the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company in Greentown, Indiana. These items were made in the Greentown colors of brown, amber, and caramel and often included fragments of glass dug up at the Greentown site. The colors came to be known as Greentown colors. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood. Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice. Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories. Bob St. Clair died in 1986. Joe St. Clair died in 1987. Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother, Paul St. Clair died in 2000. Very Large Size: Just under 3 1/4" diameter by just
under 3 1/2" high. It weighs just under two pounds.
The base is finished flat and hot stamped in the center with the
signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 3/20/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4356 | William Manson Phoenix Paperweights
Limited Edition FP14 Paneled Millefiori Paperweight. Dated
2003. This paperweight has a paneled millefiori design
with twelve panels of 1 - 2 millefiori in each panel. The
panels are separated by black and white twist canes. In the
center is a large closepack design of millefiori canes. The
entire design is set on glittery translucent green ground. The
paperweight was issued in a limited edition of 75 paperweights of
which this is number 51. It is signed and numbered "PHOENIX
2003 51/75" on the base (although a mistake was made and corrected
in engraving the 75). It also has a Phoenix
Paperweights "PP" signature cane set in the center of the
base. Perfect condition with certificate
(#51/75).
Phoenix Paperweights was a small company started by William Manson Sr. to engage three workers from Perthshire after Perthshire closed in January 2002. They only lasted a year and issued paperweights in 2002 and 2003 before closing in August 2003. Phoenix operated in the Manson works in Perth, Scotland. The glass workers were William Manson Sr., David McNichol (paperweight maker), Duncan Smith (lampworking), and Gordon Taylor (glass cutter). Some of the lampwork was also done by Rosette Fleming. The 2003 Phoenix catalog lists William Manson Paperweights as the distributor. Size: Just over 2 9/16" diameter by just
under 1 3/4" high. The base is ground flat with a concave center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/16/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5280 | Chinese Concentric Millefiori
Paperweight with 1856 Date Cane. circa 1960 -
1990. This paperweight is a large two ring concentric
millefiori paperweight with an unusual large "1856" date cane.
The ground is clear glass. It is intended to replicate antique
American and French millefiori paperweights with date canes,
although none of the real antiques used the date 1856. Earlier
1930s Chinese paperweights sometimes had dates but they were painted
in black on white plaques, not canes. In this case, the 1856
date is a real cane - the number goes all the way through the glass
and can be see in reverse from the base. A fun collectible. Note: The condition is rated fair because of many light scratches, pinpricks, and abrasions on the surface. In spite of this, it displays well. Please review the pictures. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. In general, Chinese paperweights from the 1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made later usually have better quality glass and are free of debris. This paperweight probably dates from the 1960s or later. Size: Just under 2 5/8 diameter by 2 1/4"
high. The base is ground flat with a matte finish. As
is typical of modern Chinese paperweights, the base is not a
perfect circle. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/10/2021 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5276 | Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature
White Millefiori Flower with Leaf and Blue Bud on a Pink Ground
Paperweight. circa 1962 - 1969. This very early
paperweight by Francis Whittemore features a five petal white flower
constructed from millefiori canes, a blue twist bud, and one green
leaf and stem. It is signed in the design with an early
Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a
yellow background. The design is placed on a powdery pink
ground which penetrates the clear encasement at the edges.
This is an important early example of Francis Whittemore's
work and worthy of any collection of Whittemore paperweights. Note: This paperweight is almost the same as the examples offered in Larry Selman's first two editions of "CATALOGUE OF COLLECTORS' PAPERWEIGHTS". See the 1970 Catalog (robins egg blue cover) or the 1971 Catalog (olive green cover). Note on execution: The pictures of the edge of the base show that Whittemore had not yet mastered the encasement of the pink ground. He must have used a frit powder for the pink ground and you can see a splatter of the powder into the clear encasement. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 3/8" diameter by 1 1/16" high. This paperweight has a very low profile. The bottom is ground concave.Signature: Signed in the design with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background. Condition: Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. There is a flaw in the encasement process where the pink powder lifted into the clear encasement (see pictures). This is not damage - rather it shows how every artist encounters challenges when learning a new medium. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/6/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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5223 | D'Albret 1975 Double Overlay
Sulphide Paperweight of Charles Lindbergh. dated
1975. This modern sulphide paperweight features a large three
dimensional figure of the Charles Augustus Lindbergh. The
sulphide figure was designed by Gilbert Poillerat. It has a
light blue and white overlay with a clear glass ground and a fancy
cut cog edged footed base. This paperweight is faceted with
one large top facet and six side facets. Only 170 copies were
made with an overlay. It is signed on the front edge of the
sulphide "C A LINDBERGH GP 75". It is also etch signed in the
center of the base "CR. D'ALBRET - FRANCE". The paperweight
comes with its original Paul Jokelson blue box marked "CHARLES A.
LINDBERGH by G. POILLERAT CRISTAL D'ALBRET FRANCE P.J." A
great addition to any collection of historical sulphides. This paperweight was made in two formats for a total of 570 paperweights, including 170 blue and white overlays and 400 non-overlays. All of the non-overlay paperweights had a cobalt blue ground. Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an
American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and
activist. At the age of 25 in 1927, he went from obscurity as a
U.S. Air Mail pilot to instantaneous world fame by making a
nonstop flight from New York City to Paris. (from Wikipedia) 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. Cristalleries et Verreries de Vianne was
founded in 1918 with the reorganization and reestablishment of a
glassworks in the town of Vianne, France following World War
I. The company specialized in making lighting fixtures
when they were approached in 1967 by Paul Jokelson with a
proposal to make sulphide paperweights. They accepted
Jokelson's proposal and successfully made a variety of sulphide
paperweights under the label Cristal d'Albret.
Jokelson was the US distributor for most, if not all, of these
products. Large Size: 3 1/8" diameter by just under 1 15/16"
high. The clear base has a fancy cut with a concavity in the
center. The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet
and six side facets and is footed. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$145 postage paid in the US. Added 3/4/2021 For more information about sulphide paperweights, see my Sulphide Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4312 | Early Large Caithness Peter Holmes Cascade
- Rainbow Two Layer Fountain Paperweight. circa
1975. This large egg shaped Caithness paperweight features a
wonderful two layer fountain design with a rainbow of colors.
The fountains "cascade" down to a black ground dusted with grey
frit. It is etched on the base "Caithness CASCADE
Scotland". There is also a two color "CG" signature cane
on the base. The glass has a grayish tinge. A beautiful
paperweight with great color. Note on condition: There is extensive scratching on the base including some rough areas on the edge of the base. I have rated the condition Good rather than Very Good because this is an abnormal amount of wear for a contemporary paperweight. The body of the paperweight is great and I found no chips, cracks or scratches on the body. The CASCADE - RAINBOW design is listed and designated CT-32 on page 11 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1974 by Peter Holmes. The Charlton Standard Catalog lists two versions of CASCADE, CT-31 on page 10 with silver fountains and CASCADE - RAINBOW, CT-32 on page 11 with the rainbow of colors. Both started production in 1974, originally with a Peter Holmes "PH" signature cane and finished production with a Caithness Glass "CG" signature cane. It is possible the switch to "CG" was the result of Holmes planning to depart Caithness which happened in 1977. The paperweight offered here is clearly the Rainbow version. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Peter Holmes started his glass working career at Caithness Glass (Scotland) in 1963 as an apprentice to Paul Ysart. He continued at Caithness until 1977, when he and Ron Hutchinson left Caithness to start Selkirk Glass. Peter left Selkirk in 2002 to start Scottish Borders Art Glass with his son, Andrew, at Galalaw, Hawick. Very large size: 2 13/16" diameter by 4" high.
The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 2/28/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5185 |
Large Joe St. Clair Icepick Flower Teapot Ring Holder Paperweight. circa 1960 - 1980. This teapot shaped figural paperweight is intended for use as a ring holder and is a very popular design. It has five light blue icepick flowers over a white chipped glass ground. As is typical of this style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each pair of flowers. It is hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom. A very flashy figural paperweight. This style of flower is called an icepick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem.
The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through the Georg Jensen Shop on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair. Size: 4 7/8" wide by 4" high. The center
paperweight portion is 2 1/2" in diameter. The bottom is finished
flat and hot stamped in the center with the signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 2/24/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2805 | Peter Holmes Selkirk 1985 Limited Edition
Floral Bouquet with Millefiori Garland Paperweight. dated
1985. This paperweight has a wonderful lampwork floral bouquet
surrounded by a millefiori garland. The bouquet consists of
six multicolored flowers each with its own leaves set on a bed of
larger leaves. It is number 147 out of a limited edition of
250 paperweights. The design is placed over a clear ground and
faceted with one large top facet and five side facets. It is
signed in script on the base "SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND 147/250 1985"
and there is also a Peter Holmes "PH" signature cane. A
colorful example from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness until 1977. Ron Hutchinson was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and millefiori paperweights. The company was located in Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in operation until 2006. . Peter Holmes started his glass working career at Caithness Glass (Scotland) in 1963 as an apprentice to Paul Ysart. He continued at Caithness until 1977, when he and Ron Hutchinson left Caithness to start Selkirk Glass. Peter left Selkirk in 2002 to start Scottish Borders Art Glass with his son, Andrew, at Galalaw, Hawick. Large size: 3" 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. Added 2/23/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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842 | Magnum 1930s Chinese Scrambled Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 1930. This is an extra large
example of a 1930s scrambled millefiori paperweight from China
filled with a nice assortment of millefiori canes and twist
canes. This style was intended to be a copy of a French
scramble or end of day weight from 1845-1860 (probably St. Louis or
Clichy), but it will not fool today's collectors. This example
is scratch signed "CHINA" on the base. As
with most Chinese paperweights of this period, this paperweight
has a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a
greenish tinge. The glass has a soft oily feel and there are many light scratches and scuff
marks. There are also striations (sugaring) in the
glass. An unusually large example worthy of any collection
of Chinese paperweights. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the 1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the 1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free of debris.
Very large size: Just under 3 7/16 diameter
by 2 7/16" high. The base is rough, fire finished, and
ground concave in the center. A remnant of the pontil scar
remains in the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 2/23/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4026 | Miniature Strathearn Eight Pointed Star
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Lime Green Ground.
circa 1963-1968. This miniature paperweight features a three
ring concentric millefiori design and is finished as a eight pointed
star. The ground is an opaque lime green. The star
points give the glass a glittery appearance. This paperweight
has a worn Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and
"STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. A great
addition to any collection of Scottish glass. This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape. The top is flattened. The star points give the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Miniature size: 2 1/16 diameter by 1 1/8
high. The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 2/22/2020 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2836 | Selkirk 1996 Stylized Blue Flower
Paperweight. dated 1996. This paperweight has an
stylized or abstract blue floral design with five trumpet shaped
petals and a green center. Each of the trumpet shapes has an
elongated bubble in the center. The design is placed over a
translucent blue ground. It is signed in script on the base
"SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND 1996". It also has a worn paper label
"SELKIRK GLASS HANDMADE IN SCOTLAND". A colorful example
from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness until 1977. Ron Hutchinson was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and millefiori paperweights. The company was located in Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in operation until 2006. . Peter Holmes started his glass working career at Caithness Glass (Scotland) in 1963 as an apprentice to Paul Ysart. He continued at Caithness until 1977, when he and Ron Hutchinson left Caithness to start Selkirk Glass. Peter left Selkirk in 2002 to start Scottish Borders Art Glass with his son, Andrew, at Galalaw, Hawick. Large size: 2 13/16" diameter by 2 5/8" high. The
bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 2/18/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3436 | Robert Townsend Translucent Veiled Yellow
Abstract Faceted Paperweight. circa 1980s or
later. This distinctive paperweight with three top
facets has an abstract multi-layered veiled design of transparent
pale yellow and clear colored glass. The veiling technique
allows the glass to react to light and create a fluid, airy
effect. It is signed on the base "Robert Townsend", but it is
possible that I am reading the signature incorrectly. I show
the signature as it appears and then darkened to make it easier to
read. An interesting paperweight that shows considerable
skill. This paperweight has a translucent design was difficult to photograph. It has "veil" effect created by using a metallic powder in the glass. The veiling technique was first developed by Dominic Labino in the early 1970s. Later it was used by Harvey Littleton (1980), Ed Nesteruk (1982), Michael O'Keefe (1984), Robert Eickholt, Gilbert C. Johnson, and others. The paperweight is signed Robert Townsend, but I have been unable to learn anything about the artist. It is professionally executed and finished. I purchased the paperweight as part of a Massachusetts collection of quality paperweights. Size: Just over 2 7/8" diameter by just over 2 5/8"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$69 postage paid in the US. Added 2/15/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5265 | Francis Whittemore Miniature Yellow Pears
with Leaves and Seed Pod Paperweight. circa 1971 -
1980. This paperweight features two yellow pears along with
three green leaves, and a seed pod. It is signed in the design
with a fancy Whittemore "W" compound signature cane. The
signature cane is a white "W" on a blue background surrounded by a
ring of white stars. The design is placed on a translucent
green ground. Whittemore revisited this theme several times
during his career as a paperweight maker. A beautiful example. Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph. The highly reflective surface even picked up a reflection of my hand and my camera. If you need more pictures please let me know. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed during the period that he was consulting at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Miniature size: Just under 2 1/16" diameter
by 1 11/16" high. The bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 2/14/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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2843 | Edinburgh Crystal Caithness 1986 Double
Trefoil "Ring of Roses"Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1986. This is a rare example made by Caithness Glass for
Edinburgh Crystal. It features a double trefoil design titled
"Ring of Roses" with green and pink millefiori and an Edinburgh "E"
signature cane in the center. The design is placed over a dark
purple almost opaque ground. Note: Most Edinburgh paperweights were also signed with an acid etch or sandblasted signature - this example is not. It is possible that this is an early prototype or even a second. The Ring of Roses design is shown in the 1986 Edinburgh Crystal Paperweights catalog as an unlimited issue paperweight. The 1986 catalog showed eight unlimited designs and twelve limited edition paperweights. Edinburgh Crystal originated as a glassworks in Scotland at Leith in 1664. The company had a long history as a glassworks, merging with and acquiring other companies, eventually becoming part of Webb Glass after World War I, although they retained the name Edinburgh and Leith Glassworks until 1955. In 1955, the name was changed to Edinburgh Crystal Glass Co. Edinburgh never made glass paperweights. Paperweights were made for Edinburgh by Caithness Glass in 1985 and 1986. Later production appears to have been outsourced to other countries. In 2004 Edinburgh Crystal purchased Caithness Glass out of receivership. Finances did not work out and Edinburgh ceased to exist in 2006 with Dartington Crystal acquiring some of the remaining assets. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Large Size: 2 7/8" diameter by just under 2 3/16"
high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$75 postage paid in the US. Added 2/7/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4856 | Baccarat 1976 Gridel Series Magnum
Millefiori White Monkey Limited Edition Paperweight. dated
1976. This modern millefiori paperweight features a large
central Gridel white monkey silhouette on a black background
surrounded by a ring of white canes. The white monkey cane is
set in the center of a paneled pattern with six panels of blue and
green millefiori and surrounded by a ring of identical green
canes. The panels are divided by rays of smaller Gridel canes
plus Baccarat's complex signature / date cane "B 1976". Each
ray contains three Gridel canes, with the exception of one ray which
contains two Gridel canes plus the signature / date cane. The
design is set on a translucent white ground. This design was
released in 1976 in a limited edition of 350 pieces. This is
number 186 in that edition. This paperweight is also signed on
the base with an acid etched Baccarat mark along with the year
(1976) and edition number (186). A fantastic
paperweight. In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other figures included in the design. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. Very Large Size: Just under 3 7/16" diameter by
just under 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$395 postage paid in the US. Added 1/30/2021. For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2544 | 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. A colorful example that you will
keep on your desk and use as - a paperweight. Large Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 2 1/16" high. The
bottom is ground concave with a pontil scar remaining. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 1/29/2021 For more information about antique paperweights see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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3405 | Baccarat Modern Four Row Open Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight. Circa 1958 - 1965.
This paperweight has an open concentric design with four rows of
pastel colored millefiori around a central complex cane. It is
signed with an etched Baccarat logo on the base. The
paperweight contains examples of early Baccarat complex millefiori
and dates from the first years of Baccarat modern millefiori
production. 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 started making modern millefiori paperweights in 1957. According to Paul Dunlop ( Baccarat Paperweights: Two Centuries of Beauty ), Baccarat started making the modern spaced millefiori paperweights on muslin or lace in 1958 and continued making undated examples until the limited editions were started in 1970. The exception is 1964 when special versions were produced for Baccarat's 200th anniversary. Medium Size: Just over 2 1/2 diameter by 2
high. Bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$165 postage paid in the US. Added 1/27/2021 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5376 | Francis Whittemore Limited Edition
Mistletoe and White Berries with Two Bells Paperweight.
circa 1965 - 1975. This paperweight features an innovative
presentation of a bunch of mistletoe and white berries with two
three-dimensional pink bells. Each bell has a Whittemore black
on yellow "W" signature cane as a clapper. The design is
placed on a translucent blue ground. It is part of a limited
edition of 100 paperweights and is engraved "54" on the base.
I don't have the original limited edition certificate. A
beautiful example. Note: There is a small rough area on the edge of the base. I don't think this is damage, but rather an area left unpolished when the paperweight was made. Today's cameras pick up the smallest defect. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 3/8" diameter by 1 15/16" high. The bottom
is ground concave but a small area was left unpolished (see
picture) For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 1/27/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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2863 | Early Selkirk 1980 Poinsettia
Paperweight. dated 1980. This paperweight has a
pale green five petal poinsettia on a translucent cobalt blue
ground. The flower has five dark green sepals and a pink and
white millefiori cane in the center. It is signed in script on
the base "SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND 1980". It also has a worn
paper label "SELKIRK GLASS HANDMADE IN SCOTLAND". An
colorful early example from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness until 1977. Ron Hutchinson was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and millefiori paperweights. The company was located in Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in operation until 2006. . Peter Holmes started his glass working career at Caithness Glass (Scotland) in 1963 as an apprentice to Paul Ysart. He continued at Caithness until 1977, when he and Ron Hutchinson left Caithness to start Selkirk Glass. Peter left Selkirk in 2002 to start Scottish Borders Art Glass with his son, Andrew, at Galalaw, Hawick. Small size: 2 5/16" diameter by 1 5/8" high. The
bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 1/25/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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5383 | Rare Harold J. Hacker Snake
Paperweight. circa 1966 - 1980. This
wonderful Harold Hacker lampwork snake paperweight. The long
brown snake with two white eyes and a long slender tongue has a
yellow stripe down its back. It blends perfectly with the
copper colored frit ground. It is engraved "HJH" on the
base. A very similar example is shown on page 172 of Melvin's
book American Glass Paperweights and their Makers (Revised
1970). A desirable example of Hacker's work. Harold James Hacker (1906 - 1989)
was born in Weston, West Virginia and, at the age of thirteen,
took a job at the Weston Glass Plant. Later he worked at
the West Virginia Specialty Glass Company and learned some of
the rudiments of blowing glass. In 1936 he moved to
California and worked at the Technical Glass Company in Los
Angeles. After service in the armed services during world
war II, he obtained a concession at the Knott's Berry Farm
making miniature glass objects, built on a hobby of lampworking
that started back in West Virginia. In 1966 Hacker and a
friend from West Virginia, A. F. Carpenter, started
experimenting with glass paperweights at a small studio near
Hacker's home in Buena Park, CA. In the beginning they
made more traditional lampwork floral arrangements and
millefiori paperweights, but then focused on lampwork snakes,
reptiles, turtles, and other animals. Their output was low
and, even with two helpers, never exceeded 200 paperweights a
year. All were signed with variations of Hacker's
signature, "Hacker", "Harold Hacker", "Harold J Hacker", or just
the initials "HJH". It is not possible to specifically
identify which lampwork animals were made by A. F. Carpenter,
but it is believed that Carpenter was the better lampwork artist
and Hacker did some of the simpler designs. Hacker also
did the encasement. Their work was considered good enough
to earn an entry in Dunlop's Dictionary of Glass
Paperweights. Both men are included in Jean Melvin's
book American Glass Paperweights and their Makers (revised
edition 1970) and Hacker has a page in Larry Selman's
All About Paperweights. Harold Hacker wrote
an article "The Art of Paperweights" for the 1968 Annual
Bulletin of the Paperweight Collectors' Association. Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 1/16" high. The
base is ground flat. Note the low profile. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$165 postage paid in the US. Added 1/22/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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600 | Early Mark Matthews 1981 Experimental
Spiral Paperweight. dated 1981. This is an early
Mark Matthews Translucent Swirl Paperweight. It features a
precise gold swirl applied to a dark brown or dark red
surface. It was made in 1981 before Mark started his studio in
1985, so it may have been made during his student days. I have
labeled this as an experimental piece because there are many surface
"flaws". These flaws don't appear to be damage but rather the
result of an unfinished or experimental process. Marble
collectors are familiar with this amazing artist but he made
relatively few paperweights. His focus is spheres and some of
them sell for thousands of dollars. This is a chance to own an
early Mark Matthews work. Mark Matthews started working in glass in 1974 while he was still an undergraduate at glorious Kent State University and continued his studies at Ohio University, receiving an MFA. Since 1985 he as worked full time in glass as an independent glass artist with his studio located within the Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio. Matthews has become internationally recognized for his mastery of the glass sphere. His stated goal is to explore the ways radically different designs and techniques can be used within a well-defined category such as spheres. Mark Matthews work has been published in many books and is held in museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio and the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Large Size: Just under 3 1/16" diameter by 2 7/16"
high. The base is unfinished with a broken pontil
scar. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 1/17/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2697 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1978B
Limited Edition Heather Paperweight. dated
1978. This paperweight features a Scottish heather sprig
surrounded by a ring of alternating amethyst and green complex
millefiori canes. The design is set on a deep blue translucent
ground. It is signed with a Perthshire complex "P1978"
signature cane on the base. The paperweight comes with its
original worn box and worn certificate stating that it is number 341
out of a limited edition of 500 paperweights (452 were made).
It also has a worn Perthshire
paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.
A nice crisp design with great color. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1978. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were six Annual Collection designs in 1978, designated A through F. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Just over 2 5/8" diameter by 1 15/16"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$285 postage paid in the US. Added 1/8/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4646 | Magnum Victor Trabucco Pink Clematis
Paperweight with Buds on Trellis. dated 1983.
This Victor Trabucco paperweight consists of a large pink clematis
with two buds and leaves and stems on a white trellis. The
clematis flower has five textured petals with dark bushy stamens in
the center. One bud is about to open. There are ten
veined leaves. The design is set on a clear ground. It
is signed on the side near the base "Trabucco 1983". There is
also a "VT" signature cane on the underside of a leaf. A
beautiful paperweight.
Victor Trabucco's original career
was as a steelworker. He began working with glass in 1974
after seeing a flameworker make a sculpture. He knew this was
what he wanted to do for his life's work. Trabucco says that
Glass is the ultimate challenge; it has properties of no other
material and offers the artist possibilities that are inspiring
for the creative process. His work is often inspired by nature,
capturing the beauty and motion of the subject and freezing a
moment in time. His work is in the collection of many major
museums. Victor set up his first studio in the basement of
his house and learned by experimentation. He now works
with his sons Jon and David in a large studio in Clarence,
NY. Very Large Size: Just over 3 1/8" diameter by
2 1/2" high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$675 postage paid in the US. Added 1/5/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4566 | Large Whitefriars Early Faceted Six Ring
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. dated 1970.
This paperweight has six concentric rings of canes (blue, white,
turquoise, dark blue, red, and white) around a larger center cane
with a star center. The ground is clear crystal. Typical
heavy Whitefriars lead crystal. The paperweight is faceted
with a large top facet and five large side facets. It has a
Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1970 in
the outermost white ring and also has an early paper label used from
the mid 1950s into the early 1970s. With its bold colors, this
is a very nice addition to any collection of millefiori
paperweights. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for awhile. Large Size: Just over 3" diameter by 1 7/8"
high. The base is ground concave. Faceted with a total
of one large top facet and five large side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$275 postage paid in the US. Added 1/4/2021 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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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$995 postage paid in the US. Added 12/26/2020 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4393 | Large Pairpoint Robbie Mason Pink Footed
Crimp Rose Paperweight. circa 2000. This is a
rare footed lush pink crimp rose paperweight made by Robbie Mason at
Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore, Massachusetts. It has 13 petals
with a 4-4-3-2 pattern and 4 outer green leaves. It has a styled
foot. This is an unusual rose style for Pairpoint which is
better known for their assembled roses with eight leaves (or four
large leaves and four narrow sepals). The attribution is based
on comparison to signed examples made by Robbie Mason. A
wonderful and rare example of the best of modern Pairpoint
production.
Note: Crimp roses from Pairpoint are rare. More typically, the rose is fashioned from a frit pickup or assembled. The leaves are identical to the large leaves in other Pairpoint rose paperweights. Several experts have reviewed this example and agree with the attribution. 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 old New Bedford factory burned down in 1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1969. Attempts were made to resume glassmaking in New Bedford for five years (1977-1982), but this was not successful. Bryden retired in September 1988. Since then, the Pairpoint Glass Company has changed owners several times. It continues to operate at that location today. Robert (Robbie) C. Mason (1935-2020) started his glass career in 1950 as an apprentice with Edinburgh Crystal, Scotland (part of the Thomas Webb and Sons). With exception of three years in the Army (1960-1963), he continued to gain seniority and expertise as a glass maker. In 1968, Thomas Bryden advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News for experienced glass workers emphasizing the need for hand made experience. Robbie Mason decided to take a chance on a new employer and joined Pairpoint in 1969. With his experience, he became a gaffer by 1971. He stayed at Pairpoint as a master glassblower until he retired in 2005. A number of well known glass artists apprenticed with him. He retired in 2005 and passed away from complications of COVID-19 in April 2020. Large Size: Just under 2 7/8 diameter by just under
3 high. The foot is 2 3/8" in diameter. There is a
remainder of a pontil mark in the center of the foot. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$595 postage paid in the US. Added 12/24/2020 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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4899 | Perthshire PP23 Paperweight Creamer or
Pitcher with Concentric Millefiori Design. circa
1973 - 1975. This paperweight pitcher has a concentric
millefiori pattern over a translucent green ground. There are
six concentric rings of millefiori canes surrounding a single center
cane. The pattern is mirrored in the bowl of the pitcher,
making it look like there is a second concentric pattern in the bowl
(but there is not). The pitcher is signed with a worn Perthshire
paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the
base. This is a very nice example. Note: The PP23 was made only from 1973 to 1975. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Approximately 4 1/4" high with a diameter of
just over 2 13/16" (not counting the handle). It is 4 1/8"
wide at the widest point. The base is hollow ground. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 12/18/2020. For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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2374 |
Spectacular Super Magnum Peter McDougall
(PMcD) Special Checker Board on Lace Ground Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 2006-2007. This paperweight
features an extra large checker board arrangement of 96 millefiori
canes plus four signature canes. The checker board is created
using 18 pink stringers. The design is placed on a lace
ground. This paperweight was part of a special offering that
Peter McDougall made at the end of 2006 or early 2007.
It is signed on each side of the checker board with a complex "PMcD"
signature cane made from four separate letter canes and it also has
a paper label on the base "PMcD Glass Studio LTD, Handmade in Crieff
Scotland." A well executed design with great color. The picture does not do justice to this paperweight. Ignore the white areas, they are reflections and glare from the lights. Peter McDougall started his glassmaking career as an apprentice at Strathearn Glass in Crieff, Scotland back in the 1960s. When Perthshire was formed in 1968, he left Strathearn to move to Perthshire and worked there in many positions, eventually bec |