Allan's Paperweights

www.paperweights.com

New Additions - Paperweights for Sale


This page displays new additions and also price changes with the newest items at the top.  For the first four weeks (and sometimes longer), these new additions are available only on this website.  That gives my website customers first choice.  After four weeks, they are also listed on eBay. 

There is no shopping cart on this website. 
If you would like to purchase any of these paperweights or need more information, please send an email to Allan Port: aport@paperweights.com

Comment about these paperweights and their condition:  Most of the paperweights offered for sale on this website are pre-owned and come from collections that I purchased from other collectors or estates.  In a few cases I purchased the paperweights directly from the artists or factories or retired dealer stocks.  Every paperweight is inspected carefully under bright light and magnification.  I try to describe any flaws in detail.  If I miss something please contact me and I will make it right.  All descriptions, identifications, and your satisfaction are guaranteed. 
 






5489 Orient & Flume Flowers and Vines Paperweight.  dated 1983 and 1984.  This is a wonderful medium sized early Orient & Flume surface decorated paperweight with a white and maroon colored flowers and green vines.  The design is set on a reflective black ground.  One large flower has a center complex millefiori signature / date "O F 83".  The signature cane is relatively rare and was only used for a few years.  It also has a signature on the base "Orient & Flume M2J 1984".  A beautiful paperweight. 

Note:  There are two dates, 1983 and 1984 on this paperweight.  That indicates that the millefiori signature was made in 1983 but the paperweight was not finished until 1984.  

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.

Medium size:   2 3/8" diameter by 2 1/8" high.  The base is polished flat. 
Signature: Signed twice, once with a complex millefiori signature / date "O F 83".  It also has a signature on the base "Orient & Flume M2J 1984". 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile view
Signature
Signature cane 
Side view
Base
$85 postage paid in the US.                       Added 5/21/2023

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Orient & Flume Flowers and Vines Paperweight
5593 Large Perthshire PP30 Limited Edition Millefiori Paperweight with Star Pattern.  dated 1978A large millefiori paperweight with a star pattern outlined by twist canes on a translucent ruby colored ground.  The panels between the points of the star are filled with a 1-3-4-5-6 pattern.  Each point consists of a 1-1-1-1 pattern.  The center is a concentric pattern of two rings around an interesting larger complex cane.  This limited edition paperweight is signed on the base with a "P 1978" complex signature cane.  It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  A nice tightly executed design that will be great addition to any collection of millefiori paperweights.

This limited edition paperweight was made from 1976 to 1979.  The edition size is not known.

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 :  Just over 3 1/16" diameter by 2 1/4" high.  The center of the base is ground concave. 
Signature: Signed with a Perthshire "P 1978" complex signature cane on the base.  It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.
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
Closeup
Profile
Signature
Side view
Base
$215 postage paid in the US.                Added 5/10/2023 

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Perthshire PP30 Limited Edition Millefiori Paperweight with Star Pattern
5490 Magnum Yaffa and Jeffrey Todd Nature Series Tree by the River Paperweight.  dated 1992.  Wonderful torchwork painted image of a live oak tree with Spanish moss and nearby ground flowers alongside a flowing river.  This scene is typical of live oaks growing in the southern US.  The image is drawn with colored glass stringers using a torch and then encased.  It is signed on the side near the base "J. Todd, NW-177 Yaffa 92' ©".  A beautiful paperweight. 

Yaffa Sikorsky-Todd and Jeffrey Todd have been working together since 1980.  Yaffa was born in Tel Aviv, Israel.  She received a BFA in Ceramics at the Philadelphia College of Art and worked briefly as a studio potter before entering a graduate program at the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1975.  She received a masters degree in glass from RIT.  In 1978, Yaffa became the second woman to teach glass at the Penland School of Crafts.  Jeffrey M. Todd, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, majored in jewelry and glass at Southern Illinois University and became interested in glass in the early 1970s, taking classes at SIU and at the Penland School of Crafts.  They have a studio in Burnsville, North Carolina.  Initially they made goblets and perfumes and then began to incorporate lampwork flowers.  Their work evolved to incorporate nature scenes from near their studio which were scaled down to a paperweight format in 1987.  Their work can be found in many museum and private collections around the world. 

Very large size:  Just under 3 7/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high.  The base is polished concave.
Signature:    Signed in script on the side near the base "J. Todd, NW-177 Yaffa 92' ©". 
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
Closeup
Side view
Signature
Profile
Base
SOLD.                               Added 3/22/2023

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Yaffa and Jeffrey Todd Nature Series Tree by the River Paperweight
5243 Early Orient & Flume Geometric Combed Paperweight with Certificate & Pouch.  dated 1974.  Wonderful early Orient & Flume surface decorated paperweight with geometric combed design.  The surface shimmers.  It is signed on the base "Orient & Flume 60M74" and comes with its original numbered certificate and fabric pouch.  A beautiful 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.  Every Orient & Flume piece has a registration number which usually includes a date code. 

Large size:  2 13/16" diameter by 1 7/8" high.  The base is polished flat.
Signature:    Signed in script on the base "Orient & Flume 60M74" and comes with its original numbered certificate and fabric pouch. 
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
View with certificate and pouch
Closeup
Top view
Signature on base
Certificate
Profile
Base
SOLD.                               Added 3/21/2023

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Early Orient & Flume Geometric Combed Paperweight with Certificate & Pouch
5238 Mdina Glass Swirl Paperweight with Knob / Handle.  circa 1968-1985.  Wonderful paperweight with a dark swirling interior of green, blue, brown, white, and other colors.  The paperweight has a knob or handle on top.  The knob has some swirls of amber glass plus bits of white glass in it.  Made on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.  It is signed "Mdina"in script on the base.

Note on condition:  This paperweight has two popped bubbles on the surface of the glass.  They are not damage, but I am mentioning them for completeness.  The larger of the bubbles is shown in one of the pictures.  

Mdina Glass was founded on the Island of Malta in 1968 by Michael Harris (1933-1994) and Eric Dobson with financial incentives and the encouragement of the Maltese government.  Initially it was called the Maltese Glass Industries, but the name was changed to Mdina Glass shortly later.  Michael Harris received his training in glass at several institutions graduating from the Royal College of Art in London in 1959.  He later became an RCA tutor setting up hot glass facilities there in 1967.  He was a pioneer of the studio glass movement in the UK.  Eric Dobson was also at the Royal College of Art.  Mdina Glass was a successful venture and gave rise to a significant glass craft industry on the Island of Malta.  Michael Harris left Malta in 1972 to establish Wight Glass in the UK.  In 1971, two Italian maestros, the father and son team of Vincente and Ettore Boffo joined Mdina Glass to introduce Italian glassmaking techniques.  Eric Dobson continued until about 1985 working with the local glass artists that he and Michael had trained. Eventually Mdina Glass was taken over by Joseph Said, a Maltese glassworker who had trained at Mdina.

For context, during this period Malta gained independence from Britain in 1964 after 150 years as a British colony.  In 1974 it became the Republic of Malta, and in 2004 joined the European Union.

Size:  Just under 2 1/2" diameter by 3 7/16" high.  The bottom is polished flat.. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  There are two popped bubbles on the surface of the glass.  They are not damage, but I am mentioning them for completeness.  The larger of the bubbles is shown in one of the pictures.
Signature:  Signed with in script on the base "Mdina". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Another view
Signature
Still another view
One of two popped bubbles on surface
Horizontal view
Base

$45 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 3/19/2023 

For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Mdina Glass Swirl Paperweight with Knob / Handle
5248 Perthshire Annual Collection 1975B Limited Edition Penguin Paperweight.  circa 1975.  This magnum sized paperweight features a penguin inside a hollow paperweight with a translucent blue flash overlay.  The penguin is standing on a small ice floe; the translucent blue overlay represents the cold blue sea.  This is one of a series of hollow weights each with a different animal.  The translucent blue overlay is faceted with one large top facet and 16 side facets (eight large and eight smaller facets).  It is signed with a "P" signature cane on the base of the ice flow.  It also has its original Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  It comes with its original certificate identifying this as #213 out of a limited edition of 350 weights, of which 316 actually made.  A wonderful paperweight that sparkles like iced water. 

The hollow weights like this are one of the favorites of collectors since they are so difficult to make.  This paperweight is a joy to examine.

Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their annual collection items 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 1975B.  It was limited to a maximum of 350 paperweights, of which only 316 were actually made.  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.

Magnum size:  3 1/8" diameter by 2 9/16" high.  It is faceted with one large top facet and 16 side facets (eight large and eight smaller facets).  The base is polished flat. 
Signature: Signed with a Perthshire "P" on the base.  It also has its original Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  It comes with its original certificate identifying this as #213 out of a limited edition of 350 weights.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Top view
Signature cane and label
Certificate
Another closeup
Another view
Still another view
Base
$435 postage paid in the US.                         Added 3/18/2023.

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1975B Limited Edition Penguin Paperweight
5598 Perthshire PP46 Diamond Pattern Closepack Millefiori Paperweight.  circa 1981-1985.  This Perthshire millefiori paperweight has a closepack design in the shape of a diamond in the center with a diamond shaped border of identical amber and white canes.  The design is set on a translucent amethyst ground with a garland of light blue and white canes on the outside.  It is signed on the base with Perthshire's complex "P" signature cane.  It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  The paperweight has one large top facet.  Every collector should have one of these.

The PP46 was made with a diamond design from 1981 to 1985.  It was also made as a Heart (1981-1999), Spade (1981-1985), and Club (1981-85).

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 just over 1 11/16" high. The base is ground concave.  There is one large top facet. 
Condition:  Excellent condition slight wear on the base but no cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  The label is worn. 
Signature:  It is signed on the base with Perthshire's "P" signature cane.   It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane & label on base
Side view
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                         Added 3/18/2023

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire PP46 Diamond Pattern Closepack Millefiori Paperweight
5972 Large Fratelli Toso Murano Scramble Paperweight with Millefiori Canes.   circa  1950-1970.  This scramble paperweight is filled with multi-colored twist canes and three millefiori.  The three complete millefiori canes are turquoise, yellow, and brown.  A couple of glass fragments inside the paperweight have internal fractures, so I am selling this for a reduced price.  It is unsigned, but I guarantee this is a genuine Fratelli Toso paperweight.  A fun paperweight with great color.

Note on internal fractures:  Scrambles like this frequently contain scrap pieces of glass that may fracture when encased.  I spotted two small pieces, one yellow piece at the base and one white piece near the yellow cane, that have fractures.  There is a picture of the white fractured piece - the fracture is about 3/8" long. 

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.

Large size:  3" diameter by 2 3/4" high.  The base is polished and slightly concave. 
Condition:   This scramble paperweight has two small pieces of glass with internal fractures.  There is also one tool mark on the surface.  Otherwise in excellent condition.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is a genuine Fratelli Toso paperweight.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Top view
Closeup
Base
Closeup of fractured white glass
Another side view
SOLD.                                             Added 3/16/2023   

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Fratelli Toso Murano Scramble Paperweight with Millefiori Canes
5968 Francis Whittemore Miniature Faceted Pink Crimp Rose Upright Pedestal Paperweight.  circa 1970.  This miniature upright pedestal paperweight features a magnificent pink crimp rose with twelve variegated pink petals and four upturned green sepals.  The petals are arranged in Whittemore's 3+3+3+3 crimp pattern.  It is signed on the underside of the rose with an early Whittemore signature cane.  The signature cane has a black "W" on a yellow background.  The design is set on a clear ground and supported by a pedestal base.  It is faceted with one large top facet and five side facets.  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).

Miniature size:  1 5/8" diameter by 2 3/16" high.  The base of the pedestal has a 1 5/8" diameter.  The bottom is ground slightly 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
Top view
Signature cane viewed through base
Another view
Profile
Side view
Horizontal view
Base
$395 postage paid in the US.                                            Added 3/15/2023

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Francis Whittemore Miniature Faceted Pink Crimp Rose Upright Pedestal Paperweight
5227 Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted Pedestal White Spider Lily Paperweight with Cobalt Blue Aventurine Ground.  circa 1960-1980.  This is a miniature pedestal paperweight with a white spider lily and four green leaves on an opaque cobalt blue aventurine ground.  The flower has a six sided yellow millefiori center with a red flare over each petal.  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 cobalt blue 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.  A great addition to any collection of Kaziun paperweights.

Note:  Please note that the base on this paperweight is slightly larger than the typical Kaziun #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:

  • Magic in the Glass - The Paperweight Artistry of Charles Kaziun, Jr. by Bernard A. Drabeck
  • American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970) :
Miniature size:  1 3/8" diameter by just over 2" high.  The pedestal base has a diameter of 1 7/8".
Signature:  Signed on the underside of the blue ground with Kaziun's gold K. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side View
Another side view
Gold foil K signature on underside of ground
Signature viewed through base
Horizontal view
Base
$295 postage paid in the US.                               Added 3/15/2023

For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page.           (dl-kaz-ca)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted Pedestal White Spider Lily Paperweight with Cobalt Blue Aventurine Ground
5592 Perthshire 1979 PP11 Limited Edition Large Spaced Millefiori Paperweight with Picture Canes and Certificate.   dated 1979. This is a large limited edition spaced millefiori paperweight with twelve mostly complex millefiori canes plus a complex signature date cane.  There are four colored picture canes, a rooster, kangaroo, butterfly, and cat.  The ground is a white lace.  More properly, this could also be considered a spaced concentric design as there are eight millefiori canes in the outer ring and four millefiori picture canes in the inner ring, arranged around a central signature cane.  The paperweight is signed with a "P1979" date cane in the center of the design.  This particular version of the PP11 with silhouette or picture canes and a hollow ground base was made from 1975 to 1982.  This paperweight comes with its original (worn) certificate stating that it is edition number 330 in a limited edition of 400 paperweights.  It does not have a paper label.  A great example with a nice assortment of complex canes and picture canes.

The Perthshire PP11 design was made from 1969 to 1992, although the design changed several times over the years.  Those made from 1972 to 1982 have one or more silhouette or picture canes.  Before 1972 there were no silhouette canes.  Starting in 1983 to 1990, an outer ring of millefiori canes was added.  In 1991 and 1992 the design changed again.  The base also changed over the years.  PP11s made from 1969 to 1974 have a flat polished base.  Those made starting in 1975 have a hollow ground base.

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 over 2 15/16" diameter by 2 1/4" high.  The base is hollow ground. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  The certificate is worn. 
Signature:  Signed with a Perthshire "P1979" date-signature cane in center of the design.  This paperweight come with its original certificate.  It does not have a paper label.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature / date cane
Certificate
Side view
Profile
Base
$265 postage paid in the US.                                                    Added 2/20/2023

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1979 PP11 Limited Edition Large Spaced Millefiori Paperweight with Picture Canes and Certificate
1603 Antique Franchini Type Aventurine Venetian Murine Paperweight Scent Bottle.  circa 1840-1880.  This rare Franchini type miniature Venetian scent bottle has two early murrine canes.  On the front is a murrine of a gondola.  The murrine on the back depicts a winged lion on water, or the Lion of St. Mark.  This murrine has a small fracture in the cane.  The six-sided shape is similar to known scent bottles made by Giacomo Franchini.  The glass is filled with aventurine and colored swirls.  It is in very good condition aside from the fractured murrine and has normal age appropriate wear.  There are also small fractures on the neck.  It does not have its original stopper and hinged cap.  Most likely it also originally had a chain.  Despite the similarity to known Franchini items, I am selling this as "Franchini Type" as other glass artisans of the period probably copied the work of the Franchini workshop. 

For comparable images, see the following pages in Miniature Masterpieces - Mosaic Glass 1838-1924 by Giovanni Sarpellon.  A similar six-sided scent bottle appears in figure 520 on page 57.  Similar gondola murrine appear in figures 425-439 on page 47.  The lion of St. Mark appears in figure 422 on page 46. 

Note on condition:  The scent bottle has several flaws.  The cane of the Lion of St. Mark has a small fracture.  There are also small fractures on the neck.  The scent bottle does not have its original stopper, hinged cap, or chain.  It also has age appropriate wear.

Giacomo (Jacopo) Franchini (1827-1897) worked with his father Giovanni Battista Franchini (1804-1873) on the development of millefiori canes incorporating figurative designs as well as floral patterns. His is best known for his miniature portraits of the famous people of his time.  He produced some of the most remarkable glass portraits and many were incorporated into scent bottles, walking stick handles and other objects, some useful and some purely decorative.  His creative period ended in 1863 when he was confined to an asylum.  For more details on the remarkable work produced by the Franchini family and others of the period, see the book Miniature Masterpieces - Mosaic Glass 1838-1924 by Giovanni Sarpellon.

Miniature size:  Just over 2 3/8" tall by just under 15/16" wide by 11/16" thick..  It weighs two ounces.  The base is ground flat.
Condition:  The scent bottle has several flaws.  The cane of the Lion of St. Mark has a small fracture.  The scent bottle does not have its original stopper, hinged cap, or chain.  There are also small fractures on the neck.  It also has age appropriate wear.
Signature:  This scent bottle is unsigned.  Despite the similarity to known Franchini items, I am selling this as "Franchini Type" as other glass artisans of the period probably copied the work of the Franchini workshop.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup of gondola on front
View of back
Closeup of Lion of St. Mark on the back
Horizontal view showing mouth
Another view of mouth
Side view
Another side view
Horizontal view
Another horizontal view
Base
$395 postage paid in the US.                                         Added 2/19/2023

For more information about antique paperweights see my Antique Paperweights Web Page.               (dl-ant-mur) 

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Franchini Type Aventurine Venetian Murine Paperweight Scent Bottle
5486 Magnum Robert Eickholt Pleated and Veiled Iridescent Paperweight.  dated 1995.  This very large paperweight has an amazing design with pleated iridescent peaks and valleys.  The colors progress from very light blue to dark blue with amber shadows.  The darker blue hills are shadowed with an amber gossamer veiling that makes this paperweight magical.  There are eleven pleats with a carefully placed bubble between each hill.  It is signed "Eickholt 1995" on the oval base.  The back of the paperweight is polished flat in the center, so it can be displayed vertical on its base or horizontal on the back.  A magnificent paperweight by Robert Eickholt. 

This paperweight has a precise translucent design was difficult to photograph.  The "veil" effect created by using a silver metallic powder in the glass.  The veiling technique was first developed by Dominic Labino who worked back in the early 1970s.  Later it was used by Harvey Littleton (1980) and Ed Nesteruk in 1982.  Robert Eickholt and and Michael O'Keefe adopted the technique a little later.

Robert Eickholt has been making glass paperweights since 1978 when he founded Eickholt Glass in Columbus, Ohio.  His designs often make use of precious metals such as gold and silver, and rare oxides such as cobalt and copper.  In later paperweights by Eickholt the design moved to the interior and veiling techniques began to appear. He retired from full time glassworking in 2013, but still creates beautiful glass on a part time basis.

Very large size:  Just over 5 5/16" wide by 5 1/8" high by about 2" thick.  It is disk shaped with a flat oval base.  The back is polished flat in the center.  This paperweight weighs just over 42 ounces (2 pounds 10 ounces) and will weigh about four pounds when packaged.
Signature: Signed "Eickholt 1995 on the base.
Condition:  Excellent condition. No chips or cracks or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature on base
Profile
Side view
Back view showing flat area
Angle view of back
Horizontal display
SOLD.                      Added 2/11/2023

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Robert Eickholt Pleated and Veiled Iridescent Paperweight
5973 Medium Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight.  circa 1963-1968.  This very attractive paperweight consists of a paneled millefiori pattern with eight sections of 1+2+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 design is set on a mottled blue green ground.  This is a very nice example.   A great 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:   2 9/16” diameter by 2” high.  The base is fire polished.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection other than mild wear on the base. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a Strathearn paperweight from Scotland. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                                 Added 2/6/2023    

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Medium Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight
5237 Early 1975 David Salazar Lundberg Studios Surface Hearts and Vines with Flowers Paperweight.  dated 1975.  This surface decorated paperweight by David Salazar at Lundberg Studios features a pair of five petal flowers in a setting of green heart shaped leaves and vines.  The design is set on an opaque white ground.  It is signed and dated on the base "LUNDBERG STUDIOS 1975 DS".  It is a very early paperweight by David Salazar.  A wonderful composition.

Note:  Both David Salazar and Daniel Salazar were at Lundberg Studios in 1975, but I am fairly confident that this is David's work.  David signed his work DS and Daniel signed his full name.  

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.

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.  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 over 2 3/4" diameter by 2 5/16" high.  The base is ground flat. 
Signature: Signed and dated on the base "LUNDBERG STUDIOS 1975 DS".  The signature is hard to see. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature on base
Closeup
Profile
Another view
Base
SOLD.                                            Added 2/6/2023

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Early 1975 David Salazar Lundberg Studios Surface Hearts and Vines with Flowers Paperweight
5601 Perthshire PP53 Medium Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Fluted Edges.  circa 1982 - 1995.  This is a medium concentric millefiori paperweight with a ribbed or fluted edge.  It has a center Perthshire "P" signature cane surrounded by five rings of millefiori canes.  The ground is an opaque blue.  This paperweight has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  The PP53 was made from 1982 to 1995.     

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. 

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.

Medium Size:  2 9/16" diameter by 1 1/4" high.  The base is ground concave. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No scratches, chips or cracks found on inspection.  The label is worn.  
Signature:  Signed with a Perthshire "P" signature cane in the center of the design.  It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Signature cane
Label on base
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                     Added 2/5/2023

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire PP53 Medium Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Fluted Edges
1938 Vasart / Lassman Concentric Millefiori Paperweight Handle Corkscrew.  circa 1950s-1960s.  This corkscrew has a concentric millefiori paperweight handle.  The firm of Lassman & Co. designed and produced this corkscrew and a variety of other useful objects during the 1950s and 1960s.  The attractive millefiori paperweight handle was made by the Ysart family of Scotland under the Vasart label.  The handle has a two ring concentric millefiori pattern.  The design is set on an opaque white ground.  The chrome plated metal screw part and other hardware were made by Lassman and the assembly was also done by them.  A fun collectible.

The maker of this item was Lassman & Co. located in the Kilburn area of North London.   Samuel Lassman purchased the paperweight handles from George Dunlop's Pirelli Glass in London.  Pirelli obtained them from Vasart.  Pirelli also took some assembled inventory back from Lassman and sold the barware items under the Pirelli label.  Pirelli also included the line in their 1959 catalog.  For more information, see my web page on Lassman & Co. or the article by Angela Bowey and Allan Port “Pirelli, Vasart and the Ysart Family” in the Paperweight Collectors Association Inc. Annual Bulletin 2015.  The barware line was sold individually and also in complete box sets.  Lassman also made a line of large industrial sized corkscrews - called packing gland extractors and used for servicing nautical applications that required a waterproof seal.

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:  1 7/16" diameter.  With the metal hardware, it is 4 3/8" long. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  The paperweight handle has no chips, cracks or scratches.  There is a tiny bit of white stray glass from the ground floating above the concentric design (not damage).  The chrome screw shows a tiny bit of roughness or possibly wear. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is a genuine Lassman corkscrew with a Vasart paperweight handle.  The metal part is marked / stamped "ENGLAND". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view (just the paperweight)
Another view
Stamped mark "ENGLAND"
Stray bit of white glass above the design (not damage)
$79 postage paid in the US.                   Added 2/5/2023

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Vasart / Lassman Concentric Millefiori Paperweight Handle Corkscrew
5613 Perthshire 1981A Annual Collection Miniature Swirl with Pink Flower Limited Edition Paperweight.  dated 1981.  This miniature paperweight features a wonderful six-petaled pink flower with three pairs of green leaves.  The flower has a great complex white millefiori center.  The design is set on a white spiral latticinio swirl that wraps around to the base.  Underneath is a honey-amber transparent ground which makes the swirl look amber also (but the swirl really is white).  The paperweight is signed on the base with Perthshire's complex "P 1981" signature / date cane.  The base is polished concave.  This paperweight was made in a limited edition of 350 paperweights (of which 264 were made).  A wonderful paperweight with brilliant 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 1981A.  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 1/16" diameter by just under 1 1/2" high.  The base is ground concave. 
Signature:  This paperweight is signed on the base with Perthshire's complex signature / date cane "P 1981".
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Profile
Side view
Closeup
Signature / Date cane on base
Base
$235 postage paid in the US.                                               Added 2/4/2023

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1981A Annual Collection Miniature Swirl with Pink Flower Limited Edition Paperweight
1297 Antique Green and White Jasper Ground Paperweight.   circa 1845-1890.  This is an unusual antique jasper ground paperweight - unusual in that there is no other motif present.  Normally we find a jasper ground paperweight with a flower or a millefiori pattern.  It could be a practice piece made by a glass worker learning how to create a jasper ground, or it could be that the flower or design wasn't ready when it needed to be picked up.  I don't know which factory made it.  Among antique American paperweight makers, both the New England Glass Company and the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company made floral paperweights with jasper grounds.  In France, St. Louis made jasper ground paperweights during the classic period (1845 - 1860).  Other factories probably did as well.  So the origin remains a mystery, but I think it is likely to have been made at the New England Glass Company (NEGC).  A colorful example that you will keep on your desk and use as - a paperweight.

Large Size:  2 3/4" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The base is ground concave with a pontil scar remaining.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee this is an antique paperweight from an unidentified factory.  Most likely it originated at the New England Glass Company.
Condition:  Good to very good condition.  It has a 3/16" circular impact mark on the side (see picture).  There are also some minor scratches on the surface and wear on the edge of the base.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Circular impact mark (3/16")
Base
Another view of base - note pontil scar in center
$85 postage paid in the US.                                            Added 2/4/2023

For more information about antique paperweights see my Antique Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Green and White Jasper Ground Paperweight
4693 Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Pink Sandwich Rose Tilted Pedestal Paperweight with Torsade.  circa 1960-1980.  This is a marvelous miniature tilted pedestal paperweight with pink sandwich rose and an outer white twist torsade.  The rose has three sepals, two longer leaves and a green stem.  At the base of the stem is bit of aventurine, perhaps intended as a ribbon.  The design is set on an opaque aqua ground.  The paperweight is tilted at a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully.  Signed on the underside of the ground with a gold foil K.  A great addition to any collection of Kaziun paperweights.

Kaziun called this style of rose a Sandwich rose.  He was inspired by the tiny roses found in antique basket of roses paperweights made by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company.  It is also called a rope rose.  The rose is made with a tiny molten glass rod.

Note:  Please note that this is slightly larger than the typical Kaziun #1.  I have been referring to this size as a #2.

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:

Miniature size:  1 7/16" diameter by just over 2 1/16" high.  The pedestal base has a diameter of 1 3/4".
Signature:  Signed on the underside of the aqua 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
Closeup
Side View
Another side view
Gold foil K signature on underside of ground
Signature viewed through base
Horizontal view
Base
$375 postage paid in the US.                               Added 2/2/2023

For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page.           (dl-kaz-ca)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Pink Sandwich Rose Tilted Pedestal Paperweight with Torsade
5257 Rare Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink Crimp Rose Paperweight with Twenty Petals.  circa 1960-1980.  This is a delicate pink crimp rose with twenty petals plus a center stamen (or pistil).  The petals are arranged in Joe St. Clair's five row 4+4+4+4+4 crimp pattern and placed over a four leaf shaped green ground.  It is signed on a polished flat base with indented letters "JOE ST CLAIR".  This may be engraved or machined rather than hot stamped.   This is a fancier signature than the hot stamped signature that Joe used on most paperweights.  A flashy paperweight with great color and execution.

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).

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 1/2” diameter by 3 3/8” high.  The base is polished flat.  It weighs just over two pounds.
Condition:  One tiny (1/16") scuff mark found on the dome.  Otherwise in excellent condition with no other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed on the polished base with indented letters "JOE ST CLAIR".  This may be engraved or machined rather than hot stamped.  It probably dates from the 1960s or 1970s, but may be earlier.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature
Closeup
Side view
Another view
Profile
Tiny scuff mark (1/16") on dome
Base
$595 postage paid in the US.                                             Added 1/2/2023 

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink Crimp Rose Paperweight with Twenty Petals
5595 Perthshire 1980 PP41 Limited Edition Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Complex Canes.  dated 1980.  This large millefiori paperweight has a complex center cane surrounded by two rings of canes, and then six radials.  Each radial consists of a single row of blue complex canes with a twist on each side.  The radials separate triangular complex cane groups of 1-2-3-4 complex canes and an outer twist completes each triangle.  The paperweight has a translucent blue ground.  It is signed with a Perthshire "P 1980" date / signature cane in the center of the base and also has its original worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  The PP41 design was issued in a limited edition only in 1980, with the edition size unknown.  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:  Just under 3" diameter by 2 1/4" high.  The base is polished concave.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with Perthshire's complex "P 1980" signature cane in the center of the base.  It also has its original worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Some wear on the base, but no other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  The paper label is worn.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane on base
Side view
Profile view
Signature cane and label on base
Base
SOLD.                                               Added 2/1/2023

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1980 PP41 Limited Edition Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Complex Canes
5492 Early Large Michael O'Keefe Silver Veiled Underwater Translucent Paperweight.  dated 1988.  This disk shaped paperweight consists of a multi-layered veiled design of transparent pale amber and clear colored glass.  The design shows a blue tint when turned in the light.  It is possible to imagine a stylized undersea anemone or animal.  The silver veiling technique used allows the glass to react to light and create a fluid, underwater effect.  This is an early O'Keefe paperweight and is signed on the oval base “MJ O'Keefe © 6/88”.  A wonderful large paperweight from this influential early glass artist. 

This paperweight has a precise translucent design was difficult to photograph.  The "veil" effect created by using a metallic powder in the glass.  The veiling technique was first developed by Dominic Labino who worked back in the early 1970s.  Later it was used by Harvey Littleton (1980) and Ed Nesteruk in 1982.  O'Keefe adopted the technique a little later.  This paperweight is dated 6/88. 

Michael J. O'Keefe has a BFA from the Center of Creative Studies, Detroit, MI.  He has also studied at the Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC (with Paul Stankard) and at the Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA (with Stephen Dale Edwards).  He has had his own studio Michael O'Keefe Glass since 1983.  His early paperweights, such as this one, use the silver veiling technique.

Large size:  Just under 4 3/4" wide by 4 3/16" high by 1 1/2" thick.  It is disk shaped with a flat oval base.  The back is polished flat in the center.  It weighs just under two pounds.
Signature: Signed “MJ O'Keefe © 6/88” on the oval base. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks or chips.  There are no scratches on the body but it does have some light scratches on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Another view
Angled view of back
Back (center is flat)
Closeup
Side View
Signature on oval base
$245 postage paid in the US.                       Added 1/30/2023

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Early Large Michael O'Keefe Silver Veiled Underwater Translucent Paperweight
5889 Peter McDougall (PMcD) 2004 Collection Double Overlay Butterfly and Red Bouquet Paperweight.  circa 2004.  This rare green and white double overlay paperweight features a floral design with a butterfly hovering amidst a bouquet of four red flowers with three, four, and five petals.  Peter McDougall said the flowers are pink, but they look red to me.  The butterfly has a pink body, yellow head, black antennae, and green and white millefiori wings.  The flowers have millefiori centers and green leaves and stems.  This was a part of Peter's 2004 Collection.  It is a limited edition paperweight limited to 30 paperweights.  It is signed in the design with Peter's complex signature cane "PMcD" and is also engraved on the edge of the base with the edition number 18/30.  The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and twelve side facets (six large and six smaller).  A special paperweight for the collector seeking unique paperweights.

This paperweight was one of the 2004 Collection Paperweights from Peter McDougall.  The design was limited to 30 paperweights.   

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.

Large Size:  3 1/8" diameter by 2 1/4" high.  The base is ground concave.  This paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and twelve side facets (six large and six smaller).
Condition:  Outstanding original condition with no scratches, chips or cracks. 
Signature:  It is signed in the design with Peter's complex signature cane "PMcD" and is also engraved on the base with the edition number 18/30.  There is no paper label on this paperweight.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view of butterfly
Signature cane
Edition number (18/30)
Profile
Base
Side view
Another view
$435 postage paid in the US.                                             Added 1/30/2023

For more information about paperweights made by Peter McDougall, see my Peter McDougall Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Peter McDougall (PMcD) 2004 Collection Double Overlay Butterfly and Red Bouquet Paperweight
5966 Large St. Louis 1986 Spray of Red and White Lilies of the Valley Paperweight on Turquoise Ground - Limited Edition with Certificates and Box.  dated 1986.  This paperweight features a wonderful spray of eleven red and white lilies of the valley with green leaves and stems.  The flowers are also called bell flowers.  The design is set on an opaque turquoise ground.  It is signed in the center of the base with a St. Louis "SL 1986" complex signature / date cane.  It comes with two certificates, one from St. Louis and one from Paul Jokelson.  Both identify this as edition number 31 in a limited edition of 250 paperweights.  It also has its original (worn) blue padded St. Louis box.  The paperweight is finished with a large top facet and six side facets.  An especially nice paperweight with great color and execution.

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 :  3 1/16" diameter by just under 1 13/16" high.  The bottom is ground concave.  The paperweight is finished with a large top facet and six side facets.
Signature : Signed in the center of the base with a St. Louis "SL 1986" complex signature / date cane.  It comes with two certificates, one from St. Louis and one from Paul Jokelson.  Both identify this as edition number 31 in a limited edition of 250 paperweights.  It also has its original (worn) blue padded St. Louis box.    
Condition :  The paperweight is in excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.  Very slight wear on the base.  The padded box is worn, with a stain from a label on top, and the hinges are distressed and failing.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
St. Louis Signature / Date Cane
Certificate from St. Louis
Certificate from Paul Jokelson
Box with paperweight and certificates
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Box
Back of box showing wear and failing hinges
Base
SOLD.                                           Added 1/26/2023

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large St. Louis 1986 Spray of Red and White Lilies of the Valley Paperweight on Turquoise Ground - Limited Edition with Certificates and Box
4457 Chinese Aquarium Paperweight with Two Fish and Foliage.  circa 1930.  This is a Chinese invention.  It is intended to be placed  in an aquarium along with the rocks and plants.  The paperweight has two blue and red fish plus an orange plant.  It is roughly cube shaped with rounded edges.  Novelty items like this started appearing in the US in the 1930s and some were sold at the 1939 World's Fair.  This is 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.  Chinese paperweights continued to be made throughout the 20th century and now into the 21st century with greatly improved quality.

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 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 3/8" by 1 3/8" by 1 1/2" high.  All of the edges are rounded.  The base is fire finished with the remnant of a pontil mark.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee this is Chinese paperweights from approximately 1930.
Condition:  Very good condition with only a few minor scratches.  The glass has a soft oily feel.  There are bubbles and debris in the glass and it has a green tinge.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Front side
Top view
Back view
Base
$45 postage paid in the US.                           Added 1/23/2023

For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Chinese Aquarium Paperweight with Two Fish and Foliage
2187 Miniature Red Crimp Rose Paperweight - Unknown American Maker.  This paperweight features a tiny fifteen petal red crimp rose.  The crimp pattern is 4+4+4+3 for a total of 15 petals.  There are four green leaves underneath.  It is unsigned and I don't know who made it.  Three of the outer petals are missing some of the red color and the underlying white shows instead.  Two of the green leaves are also missing some of their color.  The design is off center.  There are bubbles in the glass.  Please read the description of condition below.  The base is polished flat so it appears that the maker must have thought it was worth keeping even with its flaws.  An important early example for the collector of crimp rose paperweights.

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).

Note:  Francis Whittemore, Robert Grablow, Charles Kaziun II, and others made similar crimp roses and used a 4+4+4+3 crimp pattern.  Possibly it is an early Kaziun piece but I don't know for sure.  It was found in Massachusetts.

Miniature size:  Just over 1 3/4" diameter by 1 9/16" high.  The base is polished flat.    
Condition:  Good condition.  There are some scratches on the body and also some pinpricks near the base.  The edge of the polished base has tiny chips.  There are bubbles in the glass and the design is off center.  Three of the outer petals and two of the leaves are missing some of their color and show the underlying white instead. 
Signature:  Unsigned.  I guarantee this paperweight to be of American origin, but do not know the maker.    

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Another side view
Base
$195 postage paid in the US.                         Added 1/19/2023.

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Miniature Red Crimp Rose Paperweight - Unknown American Maker
5971 Magnum Murano Six Row Concentric Millefiori Paperweight - Likely by Barovier & Toso.  circa 1970.  This paperweight is a good example of an extra large Murano concentric millefiori paperweight.  It has six tight rows of large cogged millefiori canes in alternating colors (red, white, and blue) around a center cane.  Each cane is built up of multiple layers of cogged design.  The red and blue canes are cased with extra color on the outside.  The design is placed over a clear ground.  This paperweight is unsigned but I believe it was made by the firm of Barovier & Toso based on similar examples found with labels.  A large colorful addition to any collection of millefiori paperweights.

Note on condition:  The paperweight has several very faint scratches and scuffs.  The longest is about 1/2" long and is on top.  The other scuffs and scratches are smaller and located on the side.  The paperweight displays beautifully.  The glass has some striations.

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.

Barovier & Toso was started in 1877 by Antonio Salviati (1816-1890), Giovanni Barovier (1839-1908), and cousins.  Originally known as Artisti Barovier, the firm merged in 1936 with Artemio and Decio Toso (owners of Ferro Toso) to form Ferro-Toso-Barovier which became Barovier & Toso in 1942.  The firm continues to operate in 21st Century and has its own museum and a Czech Republic subsidiary.  It is directed by Angelo Barovier, his son Jacopo Barovier, and Giovani Toso.

Very large size:   Just over 3 5/8" diameter by 2 15/16" high.  It weighs two pounds two ounces (three pounds when packaged).  The base is polished flat.
Condition:   The paperweight has several very faint scratches and scuffs.  The longest is about 1/2" long and is on top.  The other scuffs and scratches are smaller and located on the side.  The paperweight displays beautifully.  The glass has some striations.
Signature:  This paperweight is unsigned but I believe it was made by the firm of Barovier & Toso based on similar examples found with labels.  I guarantee that this paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Another side view
Base
SOLD.                                         Added 1/18/2023

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Murano Six Row Concentric Millefiori Paperweight - Likely by Barovier & Toso
5958 Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Yellow Sandwich Rose Tilted Pedestal Paperweight with Millefiori on White Ground.  circa 1960-1980.  This is a extra small miniature tilted pedestal paperweight with yellow sandwich rose and three green leaves.  There are three millefiori canes between the leaves and the design is set on an opaque white ground.  The paperweight is tilted at a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully.  Signed on the underside of the ground with a gold foil K.  It is faceted with a large angled top facet and six side facets.  It has all the bells and whistles.  A special paperweight by this talented artist.

Kaziun called this style of rose a Sandwich rose.  He was inspired by the tiny roses found in antique basket of roses paperweights made by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company.  It is also called a rope rose.  The rose is made with a tiny molten glass rod.

Note:  Please note that this paperweight is extra small and is slightly smaller than Kaziun's popular spider lily paperweights.  It is hard to imagine how he packed so much detail into such a small object.

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:

Miniature size:  Just under 1 1/4" diameter by just under 1 3/4" high.  The pedestal base has a diameter of just under 1 3/16".
Signature:  Signed on the underside of the white 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
Closeup
Top view
Side View
Another side view
Gold foil K signature on underside of ground
Signature viewed through base
Base
$435 postage paid in the US.                               Added 1/17/2023

For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page.           (dl-kaz-ca)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Yellow Sandwich Rose Tilted Pedestal Paperweight with Millefiori on White Ground
5970 Large Murano Carpet Ground Millefiori Paperweight - ALT or 3 Fiori.  circa 1970s-2000.  This paperweight is a great example of a carpet millefiori paperweight from the premier Murano glass studio ALT or its later successor Vetreria 3 Fiori.  The design is closely packed with two types of flower canes.  One type of flower canes sets up a concentric design of two rows around a center cane of the same type.  The other type of flower cane fills in all the spaces to form a uniform carpet and also forms a stave basket on the outside of the design.  The setup is convex when viewed from the side but concave when viewed from the base.  The base is polished flat.  It is unsigned, but certainly originated at either ALT or 3 Fiori.  A wonderful paperweight.

Note on condition:  This paperweight has two small areas with damage on the side.  One is an abrasion or rough area approximately 1/4" across.  The other is an area about the same size low on the side with several pinpricks or tiny chips.  Both are hard to see without magnification.  They are shown in the pictures.  The paperweight displays beautifully but I have chosen to reduce the price to compensate for these flaws.

This paperweight was made either ALT studio or Vetreria 3 Fiori studio on the island of Murano in Venice, ItalyALT was founded in the 1970s and specialized in making paperweights, although they also made other types of glass.  They continued in operation until around 2002.  In the late 1990s two glass workers at ALT left and founded Vetreria 3 Fiori, which came to be recognized as the best millefiori paperweight maker in Murano.  This studio was in operation for only five years from about 2000 to 2005.  Subsequently, two of the workers at 3 Fiori opened a new studio called The Millefiori Factory but it appears that that has also closed. 

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:   3 1/16" diameter by 1 15/16" high with a flat polished base. 
Condition:   Very good condition.  This paperweight has two small areas with damage on the side.  One is an abrasion or rough area approximately 1/4" across.  The other is an area about the same size low on the side with several pinpricks or tiny chips.  Both are hard to see without magnification.  They are shown in the pictures.  The paperweight displays beautifully.  No chips, cracks, or scratches on the dome.  
Signature:  This paperweight unsigned, but I guarantee it was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.  The most likely maker is either ALT or Vetreria 3 Fiori.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Abrasion or rub mark on side (1/4")
Pinpricks on side (1/4")
Base
$75 postage paid in the US.                                         Added 1/16/2023

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Murano Carpet Ground Millefiori Paperweight - ALT or 3 Fiori
5887 Vintage Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori Paperweight.  circa 1970s.  This is a wonderful spaced millefiori paperweight with thirteen fantastic millefiori canes placed on a two layer turquoise ground.  The canes are especially nice.  The ground has a translucent layer above an opaque layer, which makes the canes look like they stand proud above the ground but when viewed from the side it is clear that the top of the canes are actually level with the top of the translucent layer. It is faceted with a large top facet and five side facets.  The facets are concave.  I believe this paperweight dates from the early 1970s when William Burchfield was still at Pairpoint.  The paperweight is unsigned, but I guarantee the attribution.  This is the nicest Pairpoint millefiori paperweight I have seen.  A well balanced deign. 

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, with new owners in 2015.

William Clark Burchfield started making paperweights at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1970.   He left in 1976 to form the Cape Cod Glass Works (also in Sagamore) which continued in operation until 2000.  It then continued briefly in Crossville, Tennessee until 2001.  Bill Burchfield died in 2012.  Bill's son Mark was also at the Cape Cod Glass Works until 1998.  

Size:  Just over 2 5/8" diameter by 1 9/16" high.  The base is polished flat.   
Condition:   Excellent condition.  No damage found on inspection.  There are tiny bubbles in the glass typical of this studio.
Signature:  This paperweight is unsigned but I guarantee that is was made at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore, Massachusetts.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
$195 postage paid in the US.                                             Added 1/15/2023

For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Vintage Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
5942 Perthshire 1981H Annual Collection Amber Double Overlay Closepack Limited Edition Paperweight.  dated 1981.  This is a closepacked millefiori design with a double overlay of amber over white.  The millefiori are all complex canes and are pulled down to the base forming a basket appearance.  Underneath the millefiori is a ground of twist canes visible from the bottom.  The paperweight has an unusual five sided faceting design consisting of a large top facet, five medium sized side facets, and five smaller side facets at a lower level.  In addition to the facets, there is a semi-facet where the amber material is removed to reveal white ovals between each of the medium side facets.  It is signed on the base with a complex "P 1981" signature / date cane.  The base is polished concave.  This paperweight was made in a limited edition of 250 paperweights (of which 152 were made).  A wonderful paperweight with brilliant 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 1981H.  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:  2 11/16" diameter by just over 1 3/4" high.  The base is ground concave.  The paperweight is finished with a large top facet and ten side facets in two rows.  It also has five semi-facets (see description).
Signature:  This paperweight is signed on the base with Perthshire's complex signature / date cane "P 1981".
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Side view
Upside down view
Closeup
Another side view
Signature / Date cane on base
View of base showing twisted canes below millefiori
Another view of base
$495 postage paid in the US.                                               Added 11/27/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1981H Annual Collection Amber Double Overlay Closepack Limited Edition Paperweight
4435 Large Tom Mosser Old Ironsides USS Constitution 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 the Old Ironsides USS Constitution alongside a dock.  The rigging is present, but the sails have been stored away.  It is signed with an "M" in the lower edge of the scene.  The plaque rests on a multi-colored frit ground with a second frit ground below.  A great example from this Cambridge Ohio maker.

Note:  This paperweight has a chip or imperfection which has been polished on the edge of the base.  Please review the pictures.

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.

Large size:  3 1/8" diameter by 2 1/2" high.  The base is polished flat.  It weighs just over 21 ounces and will be two pounds when packaged for mailing.
Condition:  Very good condition.  There is a 1/2" wide chip or imperfection at the edge of the base.  This may have been a chip which was polished.  Some wear on the base.
Signature: Signed "M" for Mosser in the design.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Side view
Polished 1/2" chip or imperfection on edge of base
Base
$75 postage paid in the US.                                             Added 11/15/2022

For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Tom Mosser Old Ironsides USS Constitution Paperweight
5484 Large Perthshire PP1 Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with 15 Panels on a Lime Green Ground.  circa 1978-1981.  A large patterned millefiori paperweight with 15 sections of floral millefiori canes over an opaque  lime green ground.  The central design consists of two rings around a central "P" signature cane.  The sections are separated by multi-color twist canes.  The millefiori canes in each section are arranged in a 1-1-2-2 pattern.  This paperweight dates from 1978 - 1981 when the Perthshire PP1 pattern had 12 or more sections, each with a 1-1-2-2 or a 1-1-1-2-2 pattern of canes.  It is signed in the center with Perthshire's "P' signature cane.  This example does not have its original Perthshire paper label.  A stunning paperweight with soft colors.

Note:  This paperweight has 15 panels each with a 1-1-2-2 millefiori pattern.  The large number of panels is relatively rare.

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:  3" in diameter by just under 2 1/8" high.  The base is ground concave. 
Signature:  It is signed in the center of the design with Perthshire's "P' signature cane.  This example does not have a paper label.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Signature cane
Base
SOLD.                                    Added 11/15/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Perthshire PP1 Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with 15 Panels on a Lime Green Ground
5225 Dramatic Daum Egg Shaped Violet Floral Paperweight from France.  1970s or laterThis egg shaped paperweight features an elegant five petal violet flower placed on a clear bubble ground.  There is a small bubble in the center of the flower.  Each petal is violet on top with a velvet texture and a lighter color underneath.  There is a thin green stem going down to the base.  A very modern creation.  It is signed "Daum" in script near the base and "France" in script on the edge of the base.  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 1/4” diameter by 3 1/8" high.   The base is polished flat. 
Signature :  Signed "Daum" in script near the base and "France" in script on the edge of the base. 
Condition :  Excellent condition.  There is a very faint 3/8" scratch near the base (see picture).  No other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Signature with "Daum" on the side and "France" on the base
Profile
Another view
Faint scratch (3/8") on side near base
Base
SOLD.                                        Added 11/10/2022

For more paperweights from France and other countries, see my  Other Countries Web Page.                 

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Dramatic Daum Egg Shaped Violet Floral Paperweight from France
5483 Baccarat 1971 Gridel Series Magnum Millefiori Rooster Limited Edition Paperweight.  dated 1971.  This modern millefiori paperweight features a large central black Gridel rooster silhouette facing left on a white background.  The rooster cane is set in the center of a concentric design with four rings of millefiori canes, including a ring of all 18 Gridel canes.  The design is set on a lace ground.  Baccarat's complex signature / date cane "B 1971" is in the third ring at 3 o'clock.  The rooster appears twice, once in the center and a smaller one facing right at 2 o'clock.  This design was released in 1971 in a limited edition of 1,200 pieces.  This is number 519 in that edition.  This paperweight is also signed on the base with two acid etched Baccarat marks along with the year (1971) and edition number (519).  The year is hard to read on the base as it was engraved on top of one of the Baccarat marks.  I show several pictures of this signature taken from different angles.  An extra large example. 

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 over 3 3/8" diameter by 2 1/16" high.    The base is polished flat.  The profile is slightly flat.  
Signature:  The paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1971" in the design.  It also has two acid etched Baccarat marks on the base along with the year (1971) and edition number (519).  The year is hard to read on the base as it was engraved on top of one of the Baccarat marks.  I show several pictures of this signature taken from different angles.
Condition:   Excellent condition.  There are some scratches on the base, but no other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature cane "B 1971"
Baccarat logo, year, and edition number on base (year is hard to read)
Another view of the signature showing the year more clearly
Another view showing the year more clearly and the second Baccarat logo on the left side of base
Side view
Base
$395 postage paid in the US.                                                        Added 11/5/2022

For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat 1971 Gridel Series Magnum Millefiori Rooster Limited Edition Paperweight
5485 Perthshire 1976 PP12 Limited Edition Large Spaced Millefiori Paperweight on Blue Lace.   dated 1976.  This is an early limited edition spaced millefiori paperweight with twelve complex millefiori canes including a complex signature date cane.  There are three picture canes, a mouse, a stag, and a duck.  The design is placed on a blue and white lace ground.  This could also be considered a spaced concentric design as the canes are arranged in two circles.  The paperweight is signed with an elaborate "P1976" signature / date cane in the design.  This particular version of the PP12 was made only in 1976.  This paperweight does not have a paper label.  It comes with its original certificate stating that this is edition number 282 of a limited edition of 400 paperweights.  A very nice example with a great assortment of complex millefiori canes.

The Perthshire PP12 design was made from 1969 to 1977 with design and color changes each year.

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:  3" diameter by just over 2 1/8" high.  The base is hollow ground. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed with a Perthshire "P1976" date-signature cane in design.  It comes with its original certificate stating that this is edition number 282 of a limited edition of 400 paperweights.  This paperweight does not have a paper label. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature / date cane
Certificate
Side view
Profile
Another closeup
Base
SOLD.                                                    Added 11/4/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1976 PP12 Limited Edition Large Spaced Millefiori Paperweight on Blue Lace
5904 Rare Lundberg Studios Tempest Moon Magnum Paperweight with Certificate.  dated 2009.  Wonderful dark night theme with stars and a sliver of the moon high above the stormy waves.   You can see each star was created with a millefiori cane.  The image of the moon was created with a gold circle over a dark brown circle.   Ferocious green and gold waves swirl below.  The surface is an iridescent gold.  Underneath the gold is an opalescent white ground.  It is signed on edge of the base in tiny script "Lundberg Studios 2009 100502".  The paperweight comes with its original (wrinkled and slightly torn) certificate.  An amazing paperweight.

Note:  The signature on the white base is hard to read, so I colored it with a blue washable marker to enhance the writing.  The blue marker ink has since been removed.

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.

Very large size:  3 1/2" diameter by 2 3/16" high.  The base is polished flat.  It weighs just under two pounds.
Signature: Signed on the edge of the base in tiny script "Lundberg Studios 2009 100502".  The signature is tiny and very difficult to read so I show the signature highlighted with washable marker which was removed after taking the picture.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks or chips or scratches other than some light scratches on the base.  There are some tool marks from when the paperweight was made.  The certificate has a wrinkle and a small tear.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature (coloring has been removed)
Certificate
Side view
Base
SOLD.                                                   Added 11/3/2022

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Lundberg Studios Tempest Moon Magnum Paperweight with Certificate
5907 Rare Early Lundberg Studios Stormy Night with Bat or Dragonfly Paperweight.  dated 1978.  Wonderful dark night theme with a bat or possibly a dragonfly skimming above stormy waves.   The bat or dragonfly has a dark red wings, body, and tail outlined in black and orange eyes.  Ferocious waves swirl below.  The surface is an iridescent gold.  Underneath the gold is an opalescent white ground.  It is signed on the base "Lundberg Studios 1978 LS10419".  This paperweight has a sticker on the base from an early Selman Online Auction (Online Auction 7 Lot 128).  This online auction is different from the auctions that had print catalogs.  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:  The signature on the white base is hard to read, so I colored it with a blue washable marker to enhance the writing.  The blue marker ink has since been removed.

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 over 2 3/4" diameter by just over 2 1/4" high.  The base is polished flat.   
Signature: Signed on the base "Lundberg Studios 1978 LS10419".  The signature is hard to read so I show one picture with the signature highlighted with washable marker which was removed after taking the picture.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks or chips or scratches other than some light scratches on the base.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Signature (coloring has been removed) and Selman label
Signature without coloring
Another view
Side view
Base
SOLD.                                                   Added 11/2/2022

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Early Lundberg Studios Stormy Night with Bat or Dragonfly Paperweight
5906 Large Whitefriars Multifaceted 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.  The paperweight is faceted with a ten sided top facet and many diamond shaped side facets that are arranged in a spiral up to the top facet.  The faceting makes it look like there are many more rings than the actual six ring setup.  It has a Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1975 in the outermost red ring (the fifth ring from the center).  The ground is clear crystal.  Typical heavy Whitefriars lead crystal.  With its dramatic faceting and 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 just over 1 15/16" high.  The base is ground concave.  Faceted with a ten sided top facet and many diamond shaped side facets that are arranged in a spiral up to the top facet.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  It has a Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1975 in the fifth ring from the center.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:  

Large picture
Signature cane
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Upside down
Base
$345 postage paid in the US.                                           Added 10/31/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Whitefriars Multifaceted Six Ring Red White & Blue Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
5892 Baccarat Eleven Row 1971 Close Concentric Millefiori Paperweight.  dated 1971.  This magnificent close concentric millefiori paperweight has eleven rings or rows with the outer ring pulled down to the center of the base to form a stave basket.  Baccarat made this design in 1971 and it has an edition number of 357, but no edition size.  The paperweight is signed in the design with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1971" in the next to the last ring.  The signature cane is upside down in the paperweight and can be difficult to find.  It also has an acid etched Baccarat mark appearing twice on the base along with the year (1971) and edition number (357).  One of the best of the Baccarat concentric paperweights.  Large and showy with great color.

Note on number of rows or rings:  This design has either ten or eleven rows, depending on whether you count the very first ring around the single center cane.  I have chosen to count it as a separate ring to be consistent with past listings. Either way, it is an impressive number of rings for a paperweight.

Note on edition size:  According to Paul Dunlop, this design is not a limited edition and the number made is unknown. 

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.

  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.

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.

Large size:  3 1/16" diameter by 2 3/8" high.    The base is polished flat.
Signature:  The paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1971" in the next to the last outer ring.  It is upside down in the row and can be hard to spot.  In addition it is double signed with the acid etched Baccarat mark appearing twice on the base along with the the year (1971) and edition number (357). 
Condition:   Excellent condition.  Some scratches on the base.  No other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane shown right side up
Signature on base
Closeup
Side view
Another view
Profile
View of base showing both Baccarat logos
Base
$850 postage paid in the US.                         Added 10/29/2022

For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat Eleven Row 1971 Close Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
5242 Magnum Murano Faceted Double Overlay Three Row Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with 1854 Date.  circa 1960-1970.  A wonderful Murano three row concentric millefiori paperweight with a red and white double overlay.  The 1854 date cane is surrounded by three rings of identical white cog canes with turquoise centers.  The "1854" date cane is either a fake date intended to deceive the buyer or perhaps commemorative of a past event.  This paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five side facets.  The top facet has an unusual cutting as does the base which is polished flat and finished with a fancy star cut.  Probably made in the 1960s by Fratelli Toso.  A classic design.

Murano paperweights with fake dates are an interesting sub-collection.  Some people collect these paperweights with the goal of getting examples of each date.  Some dates correspond dates used in real antique French or American paperweights, but there are no antique paperweights known to have an 1854 date.

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.

Very large size:   3 3/16" diameter by 2 1/8" high.  The base is polished flat and finished with a fancy star cut.  This paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five smaller side facets.  The top facet has an unusual cutting. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this paperweight is from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.  It was probably made in the 1960s by Fratelli Toso.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Some light wear on the base.  No other chips, cracks, of scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Star cut base
Side view
Upside down
Base
$145 postage paid in the US.                                                       Added 10/29/2022

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Murano Faceted Double Overlay Three Row Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with 1854 Date
5910 Perthshire 1970 PP19 Limited Edition Millefiori Scramble Paperweight.   dated 1970.  This is a large sized scramble or end of day millefiori paperweight with a Perthshire "P 1970" signature / date cane in the design.  It also has a large but faint "P" signature cane near the center.  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 also has a very worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" taped to the base. 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.

Large size:  2 13/16" diameter by just over 2 1/8" high.  The base is ground concave. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  The paper label is very worn and the previous owner taped the label to the base.
Signature:  It is signed with Perthshire's "P 1970" signature cane in the design.  It also has a large but faint "P" signature cane near the center.  And there is a very worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" taped to the base.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature canes
Another view of signature Canes
Side view
Label (very worn) taped to base
Profile
Base
$225 postage paid in the US.                                            Added 10/28/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1970 PP19 Limited Edition Millefiori Scramble Paperweight
5899 Baccarat Macιdoine Millefiori Paperweight.   circa 1957-1970s.  This paperweight is made up of multi-colored striped millefiori segments arranged at (mostly) right angles.  This is a contemporary paperweight made for only a short time.  It is acid etched with the Baccarat signature on the base.  This is a great example of a unique Baccarat design.

The Macιdoine is a uniquely Baccarat style in which the short sections of latticinio (twists, filigree, lace) are arranged in a quilt-like pattern with many of the sections at right angles to each other.  This pattern was originally made during the classic period of French paperweights (1845-1860).  The modern version was produced in the 1950s - 1970s and is similar to yet different from the antique version.

Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne.  The original location was near the town of Baccarat.  Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat.  Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production:

  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.

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 2" high.  The base is polished flat.  The profile is slightly flattened. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no scratches, chips or cracks. 
Signature:  Signed with the Baccarat acid etched signature on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Signature
Profile
Side view
View from the bottom
Base
$245 postage paid in the US.                                                         Added 10/28/2022

For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat Macιdoine Millefiori Paperweight
5488 Orient & Flume Blue Iridescent Hearts, Vines, and Flower Paperweight with Certificate.  dated 1978.  Wonderful complex surface decorated design with a large green flower, five dark red hearts, and vines on an iridescent blue surface.  The green flower has a millefiori center.  The surface shimmers.  It is signed on the base "Orient & Flume 673M1978" and comes with its original numbered certificate.  A beautiful 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.  Every Orient & Flume piece has a registration number which usually includes a date code. 

Size:  Just over 3 1/16" diameter by just over 2 1/2" high.  The base is polished flat.
Signature:    Signed in script on the base "Orient & Flume 673M1978" and comes with its original numbered certificate. 
Condition:  Very good to Excellent condition.  Some tool marks on the surface from when it was made, including one tiny scratch or tool mark on a petal of the flower.  Some scratches on the base.  No other chips or cracks or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Signature on base
Certificate (3 of 12 sections)
Another view
Base
SOLD.                               Added 10/28/2022

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Orient & Flume Blue Iridescent Hearts, Vines, and Flower Paperweight with Certificate
4079 Murano Trumpet Flower Paperweight with Label, possibly by Ferro and Lazzarini.  Circa 1970.  Murano trumpet or icepick flower paperweight with seven flowers and a center bubble cushion ground.  The flowers are loosely arranged around a center flower.  Each flower is made from a colored millefiori slice that has been pushed down to the bubble cushion ground.  There is a planned bubble in the center of each flower.  This paperweight has its original but worn red and gold foil label identifying it as "MADE IN MURANO ITALY".  The maker is possibly Ferro and Lazzarini.  A very nice elegant example of this style of paperweight. 

This style is also called an icepick flower because of the sharp tool used to push each flower down to the base.  In this case the tool is pushed through a millefiori glass slice.  Some authors call these morning glory flowers.

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 over 3" diameter by 2 7/8" high.  The bottom is polished flat.
Condition:  Very good condition.  No chips or cracks, but a few tiny scratches and one surface bubble were found on inspection.
Signature :  Unsigned, by I guarantee that this is a vintage paperweight from the Island of Murano in Venice, Italy.  It was possibly made by Ferro and Lazzarini.  It has its original worn red and gold foil label identifying it as "MADE IN MURANO ITALY".  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Top view
Label
Base
SOLD.                                                 Added 10/23/2022

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Murano Trumpet Flower Paperweight with Label, possibly by Ferro and Lazzarini
4445 Large Murano Pear Paperweight.   circa 1950-1980.  This pear paperweight is made in the style of the antique New England Glass Company pear paperweights with a variegated pear set on a clear slightly oval cookie base.  It appears to be hollow blown just like those from NEGC.  An excellent example of this style. 

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:   2 3/4" diameter by 3 15/16" long by 2 15/16" high.  The base 2 13/16" by 2 11/16" and is fire finished. 
Condition:   Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  This paperweight is unsigned.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Top view
End view
Base
Another side view
$69 postage paid in the US.                                             Added 10/22/2022   

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Murano Pear Paperweight
2082 Caithness Helen MacDonald Red Carnation Style One Paperweight.   issued 1999.  This beautiful paperweight features a crimp red carnation set on a rich cobalt blue ground.  There is a contrasting field of controlled bubbles located top right.  It is finished with a small polished flat base and a large angled facet.  The carnation is set at an angle matching the facet.  This design was created by Helen MacDonald and issued in 1999.  The paperweight is engraved on the edge of the base "Red Carnation Caithness Scotland" with a registration number "Y17099".  Please see note below about a scratched area on the backside.  A beautiful design.

The RED CARNATION Style One design is listed on page 256 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights.  It was designed by Helen MacDonald and released in an unlimited edition in 1999.  The original issue price in the US was $82.50 and the Charlton Catalog lists the 2004 current value as $500.

Note about condition:  This paperweight has an area on the backside near the base with many small scratches or abrasions (see picture).  The area looks like a dirt smudge and I had to look with magnification to realize that this is damage.  In spite of this, the paperweight displays beautifully.  Offered for a bargain price.

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.  Caithness is still operating in Crieff and making paperweights today (in 2022).

Large size:  2 3/4" diameter by 2 11/16" high.  The small base is polished flat.  It is faceted with a large angled facet.
Condition:  Good condition.  This paperweight has an area on the backside near the base with many small faint scratches or abrasions (see picture).  There are also a few faint scratches on the base. 
Signature:  This paperweight engraved on the edge of the base "Red Carnation Caithness Scotland" with a registration number "Y17099".

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Another side view
Signature on base
Scratched area on backside
Base
Another view of base
$69 postage paid in the US.                                     Added 10/20/2022

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Caithness Helen MacDonald Red Carnation Style One Paperweight
4511 Magnum Goebel Charlottenhόtte Molded Bee Paperweight.  circa 1970s.  This very large molded paperweight has a three dimensional bee on the textured top.  It is disk shaped and is signed with an acid etched "Goebel" logo on the base and a silver foil label "Goebel Charlottenhόtte Western Germany".  The glass has a very slight yellow cast but is mostly colorless and clear with a frosted bee on top.  An interesting addition to any collection of glass paperweights.

Note about color:  The glass has a very slight yellow cast but is mostly colorless and clear with a frosted bee on top.  The pictures exaggerate the yellow color.

Note about precedent
:  This paperweight reminds me of the Baccarat molded paperweights that appeared in their 1885 catalog.  Baccarat also included a molded bee. 

Goebel was founded in 1831 by William Goebel and his father Franz Detleff.  The first factory opened  in 1878 in Oeslau-Rφdental (Bavaria).  The company sought recognition for its artistic accomplishments, high quality, and craftsmanship.  In 1935 Goebel was granted an exclusive agreement by Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel and the Convent of Siessen to create three dimensional porcelain figurines based on Hummel's drawings.  This product was immensely successful and led to the expansion of the company into other product lines, including glass.  The company prospered until the financial turmoils following events in 2001 and 2006 forced several reorganizations spanning until 2017.  Now under new ownership, the company has moved from Rφdental to Bad Staffelstein.  The product line continues to be designed in Germany, but some production takes place elsewhere.  The Charlottenhόtte Western Germany label is found on Goebel glass products made before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.  Charlottenhόtte was an industrial area known for its steel industry prior to and during WWII.  After the war steel production was dismantled and other industries were allowed to develop.  Goebel Charlottenhόtte also made copies of Swedish and Finnish molded glass patterns, including a very successful line of melting ice tree bark pattern tumblers.

Very large size:  3 5/8” diameter by 1 5/8” high.  The base is polished flat.
Condition:  Very good condition.  There are some scratches on the base.  No chips or cracks.  A few bubbles in the glass.  The label is worn.
Signature:  Signed with an acid etched "Goebel" logo on the base and a silver foil label "Goebel Charlottenhόtte Western Germany".

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Label
Goebel etched mark on base
Profile
Side view
Another side view
View from base
$45 postage paid in the US.                            Added 10/19/2022  

For more paperweights from other countries, see my  Other Countries Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Goebel Charlottenhόtte Molded Bee Paperweight
5978 Perthshire PP32 Q Limited Edition Faceted Concentric Paperweight with Complex Canesdated 1985.  This small limited edition concentric design has a concentric design using only complex millefiori canes.  There is a large center cluster surrounded by a cogged garland.  The design is placed on a translucent ruby ground and is finished with an unusual faceting pattern of one large top facet and nine oval side facets in two rows (six vertical facets in the top row and three horizontal facets in the lower row).  This paperweight was made in a limited edition of 400 paperweights for 1985.  It was signed in the center of the design with a complex "Q" cane which was used only in 1985.  A wonderful jewel that will enhance any collection of millefiori paperweights.

The PP32 was a limited edition design was made only from 1978 through 1986.  Each year the design was different and was signed with a letter signifying the year, with 'J" for 1978 through "R" for 1986.  Only one other Perthshire paperweight was dated this way for more than one year, that being the PP14 which was made from 1969 (A) through 1994 (Z).

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 3/16" diameter by 2 3/8" high.  The base is polished concave.  It is finished with an unusual faceting pattern of one large top facet and nine oval side facets in two rows (six vertical facets in the top row and three horizontal facets in the lower row).
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with a complex "Q" signature / date cane in the center of the design.  This identifies the paperweight as a 1985 Perthshire PP32 paperweight.  There is no paper label on this paperweight.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Signature / date cane
Profile
Side view
Base
SOLD.                                               Added 10/19/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire PP32 Q Limited Edition Faceted Concentric Paperweight with Complex Canes
1035 Old Chinese Two Color Fantasy Flower Paperweight with Leaves and Bud - Copy of Baccarat Antique.       Circa 1930.   This is a copy of a French Baccarat 12 petal fantasy flower paperweight with bud made in the classic period from 1845-1860.  The two color flower has a complex millefiori center cane, five leaves, and a stem.  The ground is clear.  The style dates from the 1920s or 1930s and is almost an antique. 

Note:  In this example the flower separated slightly from the stem during the stem during encasement.

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 11/16" diameter by 2" high.  The bottom is ground flat. 
Signature:      Unsigned but I guarantee that this is from China and dates from about 1930. 
Condition:  Very good condition.  There are some minor scratches on the body and one 3/16" chip on one side.  The base has age appropriate wear.  As is typical to weights of this type, the glass has some debris and tiny bubbles.  As with Chinese paperweights from this period, this paperweight has a greenish tinge and a soft almost oily feel.   In this example the flower separated slightly from the stem during the stem during encasement. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
 
Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Chip on side
Base

New Price $25 (was $39)  postage paid in the US.                                            Repriced 10/18/2022

For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
3900 Huge Tom Philabaum 1991 Disk Shaped Iridescent Abstract Paperweight.  dated 1991.  This very large disk shaped paperweight features a reddish brown web like pattern spiraling out from the center with a faint iridescence.  There is a single small bubble in the center of the pattern.  The glass has a smokey color in the pictures, but this may be an illusion.  A wonderful creation that resembles an unnamed sea form.  It can be displayed upright or flat on its back.  It is signed "Philabaum 1991 LV" on the back near the base.  I don't know the significance of the letters "LV".  An imaginative early paperweight by this fantastic artist.

Thomas A. Philabaum (born 1947 Toledo, Ohio) studied ceramics at the Southern Illinois University (B.A. 1969) before switching to study glassblowing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Harvey Littleton.  While at Wisconsin, Tom also participated in Littleton's early experiments in studio glass art at the Toledo Museum of Art School.  After graduating from Wisconsin with a Masters of Arts (1973) in Glassblowing, Philabaum built his first glassblowing studio in 1975 in downtown Tucson, Arizona, and opened a gallery there in 1982.  He also has a MFA in ceramics from the University of Arizona (1983).  He has been a major contributor to the glass art movement and the leadership of the Glass Arts Society (GAS) which hosted its annual conference in Tucson twice, in 1983 and 1997.  Tom Philabaum is the recipient of many awards and his work can be found in many museums, private collections, and shops.  Tom officially retired from glassblowing in December, 2018, though he continues to paint and fuse glass.  In October, 2020, Tom and his wife Dabney sold the Philabaum Gallery to long-time Gallery Manager, Alison Harvey and her husband, Dylan Harvey.  The Gallery continues to be the only all-glass Gallery in Southern Arizona, displaying works from over 50 artists from across the country.

Very large size:  6 3/4" diameter.  It is 6 1/2" high when displayed upright.  Approximately 1 1/2" thick.  The base is polished flat.  The center of the back side is also polished flat, allowing the paperweight to lie flat in addition to upright.    This paperweight weighs three pounds four ounces, or four pounds when packaged.
Signature:  Signed "Philabaum 1991 LV" on the back near the base.  I don't know the significance of the letters "LV".  
Condition:  Very good condition with no cracks, chips or scratches found on the front side.  There is a 5/8" scratch on the reverse side near the center.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Backside
Another view
Signature on backside near base
Backside up
Scratch on back side
Still another view
Base
SOLD.                                            Added 10/18/2022

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Huge Tom Philabaum 1991 Disk Shaped Iridescent Abstract Paperweight
5915 Vasart Miniature Concentric Paperweight.  circa 1950-1963.  Miniature concentric paperweight with three rings of white, blue, and red/orange millefiori around a central white millefiori cane.  The outer ring of canes alternates between orange and red.  The ground is an opaque yellow color.  A neat miniature - very small. 

Note:  This miniature was among the smaller sizes produced at Vasart.  It is about the same sized used for the barware handles made by Vasart and incorporated into the Lassman corkscrews, bottle openers, and other barware.  They did make some as small as 1 1/2". 

Note on attribution:  With a concentric design it is often difficult to distinguish between a Vasart concentric and a later Strathearn concentric.  One feature that helps is whether the canes are even with the ground or stand above the ground (also called stand proud).  Vasart did not have reheat furnaces (glory holes) and thus most of their paperweights have the canes well above the ground.  Strathearn had newer equipment and were able to use some as reheat furnaces.  That gave them the ability to rework the glass and smooth out the tops of the canes.  Another distinguishing feature was the use of (mostly) colored twist canes at Vasart and the use of (mostly) white canes at Strathearn.  Colors also helped but that was more subjective. 

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 article 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.

Miniature size:  Just over 1 5/8" diameter by 1 1/4" high.  The base is fire finished. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no scratches, chips or cracks. 
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee that it is an early Scottish paperweight, most likely made at Vasart.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Another side view
Base
$35 postage paid in the US.                Added 8/25/2022

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Vasart Miniature Concentric Paperweight
4075 Small Fratelli Toso Murano Scramble Paperweight.   circa  1950-1970.  This fun scramble paperweight is filled with light blue and pink twist canes.  There is an illegible silver foil label, but I guarantee this is a genuine Fratelli Toso paperweight.

Note:  This paperweight started off with a legible Fratelli Toso silver foil label which had a conjoined "ft" and "MADE IN ITALY MURANO GLASS", but the ink came off when I cleaned the paperweight.  The label is now illegible and I am selling it for a reduced price.  If you look hard, you can see the imprint of the conjoined "ft" on the left side. 

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.

Small size:   Just under 2 1/4" diameter by 2" high.  The base is polished flat. 
Condition:   Excellent condition although the label is worn and illegible.
Signature:  This paperweight started off with a legible Fratelli Toso silver foil label which had a conjoined "ft" and "MADE IN ITALY MURANO GLASS", but the ink came off when I cleaned the paperweight.  The label is now illegible and I am selling it for a reduced price.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Top view
Base
Closeup of illegible silver foil label
$39 postage paid in the US.                                             Added 8/24/2022   

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Small Fratelli Toso Murano Scramble Paperweight
4861 Super Magnum 1996 Baccarat Limited Edition Starfish Paperweight with Box.  dated 1996.  This very large paperweights features a red starfish, lilac colored sea anemone, and green and white striped sea grass in a marine setting.  The design is set on a translucent blue sandy ground.  There is a complex signature / date cane "B 1996" in the design next to the starfish.  The base has an acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1996) and the edition number and edition size (69 / 100).  It is also engraved low on the side near the base with "Baccarat" in script.  It comes with its original red rigid Baccarat box.  A hard to find paperweight that is magnificent.

Very large size: Just under 3 11/16" diameter by 2 5/16" high.  The box is 5 3/16" by 5 3/16" by 4 1/8" high.  The base is polished flat.  It weighs just under two pounds, 43 ounces with its box. 
Condition: Excellent condition with no cracks or chips or scratches.  It is in perfect original condition.  The box is slightly worn.
Signature:  Made by Baccarat in France in 1996.  There is a complex signature / date cane "B 1996" in the design next to the starfish.  The base has an acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1996) and the edition number and edition size (69 / 100).  It is also engraved low on the side near the base with "Baccarat" in script. 

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. 

  • 1845-1860 - Classic period 
  • 1900-1934 - Dupont period 
  • 1953 - on - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification as it is likely that Baccarat made some paperweights on and off through most of 19th century.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).  Pansy weights and rock weights continued in production until much later.  Some paperweights are identified as Dupont period and were made at the end of the 19th Century or early in the 20th century. 

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.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Paperweight in box
Side view 
Signature cane
Signature on base
Baccarat engraved on side near base
Profile
Box
Closeup 
Base
$1,200 Postage paid in the US.                                          US Sales only, no international shipping.  Delivery will require a signature.                  Added 8/24/2022

For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Super Magnum 1996 Baccarat Limited Edition Starfish Paperweight with Box
5618 Perthshire Annual Collection 1983A Limited Edition Millefiori Flower Paperweight.  dated 1983.  This medium sized paperweight features a yellow lampwork flower with two leaves and a stem.  The flower is set on a translucent green ground and is surrounded by a square of twists, then a ring of complex millefiori canes, and then another ring of twists and millefiori.  There is also a complex cane in the center of the flower.  It is signed on the base with a complex "P 1983" signature cane.  It also has its original worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base and comes with its original stained and wrinkled certificate stating this is edition number 21 of a 1983 limited edition of 300 paperweights (241 were actually made).  A remarkable paperweight with great color and a complex design. 

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 1983A.  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 over 2 1/2" diameter by 1 7/8" high.  The base is ground concave.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with a complex "P 1983" signature cane in the center of the base.  It also has its original (worn) Perthshire label and comes with its original stained and wrinkled certificate.
Condition:  Excellent condition. No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  The label is worn and the certificate is stained and wrinkled.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane
Worn label
Side view
Certificate (stained and wrinkled)
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                               Added 8/23/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1983A Limited Edition Millefiori Flower Paperweight
5378 Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Seal with Millefiori Nosegay Handle.  circa 1860-1888Interesting NEGC seal with millefiori nosegay handle.  The nosegay has three marvelous complex millefiori.  The base has a grid cut and is not customized for the owner.  Fair to good condition, with many small chips on the edges and corners.  The handle has a six sided top facet plus two rows of six facets each.  The stem and base are six sided.  Rare item.

The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley.  The Art of the Paperweight  - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC.

Size:  The six-sided handle is 1 5/16" wide at its widest.  2 5/8" long.  The base is 7/8" width at its widest.  Heavily faceted. 
Condition:  Fair to good condition, with many small chips on the edges and corners.      
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is an antique New England Glass Company seal.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Another view
Top view
Worst of the chips
Base
Side view
And side another
$1,100 postage paid in the US.                     US Sales only, no international shipping.   Delivery will require a signature.              Added 8/22/2021

For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. 

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Seal with Millefiori Nosegay Handle
1537 Magnum Chinese Blue Pedestal Rose Paperweight.  circa 1980-2000.  This is a modern Chinese blue pedestal rose paperweight with 30 blue colored petals and five green leaves.  The petals are arranged in six rings in a 6+6+6+5+4+3 pattern.  The design is set on a pedestal stem with three knops and a white and green frit base.  A large example of a modern Chinese lampwork rose.  

Unlike the 1930s copies of Millville crimp roses, this example thin petals and appears to be a lampwork assembly.  Lampwork flowers are assembled at a hot torch (lamp) before being encased in glass.  Crimp roses are made by a more difficult process that creates the rose in a single step using a metal crimp.

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.  Chinese paperweights continued to be made throughout the 20th century and now into the 21st century with greatly improved quality.

Very large size:  3 9/16” diameter by 5 1/8” high.  The base is 3 1/4" diameter.  The base is ground flat.  It weighs 46 ounces (2 pounds, 14 ounces).
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is made in China circa 1980-2000. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Top view
Side view
Another picture
Frit base

$79 postage paid in the US.                                        Added 8/21/2022

For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Chinese Blue Pedestal Rose Paperweight
5266 Large Whitefriars P8 Cylinder Six Ring Green and White Concentric Millefiori Paperweight.  dated 1973.  This cylinder shaped paperweight has six concentric rings of light green and white millefiori canes around a center cane that has a five petal blue flower in the center.  The ground is clear crystal.  Typical heavy Whitefriars lead crystal.  The paperweight is faceted a fancy faceting described as finger cut with top and bottom edge fluting.  There is one large facet on top, eight long finger flutes, eight oval facets at the top, and eight oval facets at the bottom of the cylinder.  It has a Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1973 in the third ring from the outer edge.  This is an unusual 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:  2 13/16" diameter by just under 2 1/2" high.  The base is ground concave.  The faceting pattern is described as finger cut with top and bottom edge fluting.  There is one large facet on top, eight long finger flutes, eight oval facets at the top, and eight oval facets at the bottom of the cylinder. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  There are some scratches on the base.  No other chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  It has a Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1973 in the third ring from the outer edge.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:  

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane
Signature cane viewed from base
Top view
Side view
Another side view
Base
View through the base
$295 postage paid in the US.                                           Added 8/9/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Whitefriars P8 Cylinder Six Ring Green and White Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
2496 Rare Chinese Copy of a NEGC Faceted Millefiori Nosegay Paperweight.  circa 1930.  This is an almost antique Chinese copy of a New England Glass Company (NEGC) Posy Paperweight made circa 1860.  It has the fancy NEGC quatrefoil faceting and setup.  The millefiori nosegay consists of three red, white, and yellow complex millefiori canes with four green leaves and a stem.  All this surrounded by two garlands of complex millefiori, one made up pink and blue flowers, the other made pink and white flowers with green centers.  This great setup is on top of a latticinio swirl ground.  There are twelve side facets (four large and eight smaller) plus the four part top facet with a notch between each.  This is a fantastic addition to any collection of antique paperweights.  In some ways, the execution of this example is better than the original NEGC, since NEGC examples usual have tipped or cracked canes and the posy is often smudged. 

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.

Large Size:   Just under 3" diameter by 2" high. The bottom is ground concave. 
Signature:   Unsigned but I guarantee that this is from China and dates from about 1930. 
Condition:  Very good condition.  There are some minor surface scratches and pinpricks and also some tiny pinpricks on the facets plus one 1/8" chip on a facet (see picture).  There is some debris or dirt in the glass as shown in the pictures.  As with all Chinese paperweights from 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 almost oily feel. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
Picture of chip
New Price $125 (was $225)  postage paid in the US.                                            Repriced 8/7/2022

For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
5965 St. Louis 1977 Limited Edition Five Flower Bouquet Paperweight with Red and White Double Overlay.  dated 1977.  This 1977 St. Louis paperweight features a lampwork bouquet of five red, white, and blue clematis flowers with green stems and leaves.  The design is placed on a clear ground and encased in a brilliant red and white double overlay.  It is finished with a large top facet and twelve side facets in two rows, plus a star cut base.  The paperweight is is signed in the center of white flower with a complex "SL 1977" signature / date cane, although the signature cane is put in upside down.  This limited edition design was offered by St. Louis in a limited edition of 450 paperweights of which 200 were reserved for the American market.  It also has its original foil label "CRISTAL SAINT LOUIS FRANCE" and comes with its original certificate of authenticity assigning this as edition number 269 of the 1150 limited edition paperweights made for the American market in 1977.  It also comes with its original very worn and stained box.  See note below about manufacturing flaws.  A brilliant design.  A great addition to any collection of modern French paperweights.

Note about manufacturing flaws:  The double overlay has several manufacturing flaws which are shown in the pictures.  The most significant is a line on the side where there is a lighter red color.  There are also two tiny tool marks, one near the top facet and another near the base.  The latter may be a tiny nick or scratch and there is also a nearby scratch on the clear base.  All of these marks and scratches are very small but showed up in the pictures.

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 1/8" diameter by 2 1/4" high.  The base has a star cut.  Finished with a red and white double overlay and faceted with a large top facet and twelve side facets.
Signature:  Signed in the center of the white flower with an upside down Saint Louis "SL 1977" signature / date cane.  It also has its original foil label "CRISTAL SAINT LOUIS FRANCE" and comes with its original certificate of authenticity assigning this as edition number 269 of the 1150 limited edition paperweights made in 1977. 
Condition:  Very good condition with several small manufacturing flaws noted.  No other scratches, chips or cracks found on inspection.  The double overlay has several manufacturing flaws which are shown in the pictures.  The most significant is a line on the side where there is a lighter red color.  There are also two tiny tool marks, one near the top facet and another near the base.  The latter may be a tiny nick or scratch and there is also a nearby scratch on the clear base.  The original box is stained and worn and has blue ink pen marks on the white lining. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature cane
Label
Certificate
Side view
Base with star cut
Box with certificate and paperweight
Color flaw on side - plus two tool marks or scratches
Another tool mark near top facet
Stained box
Stains inside box
Base
$375 postage paid in the US.                                        Added 8/2/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
St. Louis 1977 Limited Edition Five Flower Bouquet Paperweight with Red and White Double Overlay
5363 Large Strathearn Spaced Millefiori on Lace Paperweight.  1963 - 1980.  This Strathearn spaced millefiori on lace paperweight features twelve colorful millefiori canes in a randomly spaced pattern.  The design is placed on a white lace (or upset muslin) ground.  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. 

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 factory was taken over by Stuart Glass in 1980 and renamed Stuart Strathearn Ltd.  After 1980, this factory ceased production of paperweights and stopped all production in 1992.  Stuart Crystal ceased all operations in 2001. 

Size:   Just over 3” diameter by 2 1/8" high.  The base is polished flat.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Minor wear on the base, but no other  scratches found on inspection.  No cracks or chips.
Signature:  Signed  with a Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Label
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Base
$175 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 8/1/2022    

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Strathearn Spaced Millefiori on Lace Paperweight
3905 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 alternating 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.

Extra large size:  3 3/16" diameter by just under 2 7/16" high.  The base is ground concave.  It weighs 22 ounces.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with a complex "P 1979" signature cane in the center of the base.  It also has its original (worn) Perthshire label.
Condition:  Excellent condition. No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  The label is worn.  There are some striations (sugaring) and a few small bubbles in the glass from when it was made.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane
Label
Side view
Profile
Another closeup
Base
$295 postage paid in the US.                                               Added 7/30/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1979A Limited Edition Sunflower Paperweight
4459 1930s Chinese Footed Orange-Red Crimp Rose Paperweight.  circa 1930.  This paperweight is a well executed almost antique 1930s Chinese copy of a Millville Crimp Rose.  It has 11 orange-red colored petals and four green leaves.  The petals are arranged in a 4+4+3 pattern.  There is a double foot at the base.  As is typical of Chinese paperweights from this period, the glass has a greenish tinge and there are many tiny bubbles in the glass. 

The South Jersey Crimp Rose is one of the most famous American paperweights.  The best makers were Emil Larson of Vineland, New Jersey and Ralph Barber of Millville, New Jersey.  There were also other makers.  Newell's Old Glass Paperweights of Southern New Jersey shows examples of both the South Jersey weight and the 1930s Chinese copy.

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.

Size:  3 1/8" diameter by 3 7/16" high.  The base is just over 2 7/16" diameter and has a double foot.  The center is ground concave.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a Chinese paperweight from about 1930.
Condition:  Very good condition with one faint 1/8" circular impact mark on the side (see picture).  No other cracks or chips.  No noticeable scratches found on inspection.  Some wear on the base.  As stated above, the glass has a greenish tinge and there are many tiny bubbles in the glass.  It is a well executed example.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view
Another view
Side view
Base
Faint circular impact mark on side (1/8")
Profile
$145 postage paid in the US.                                                Added 7/27/2022

For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image
1930s Chinese Footed Orange-Red Crimp Rose Paperweight
1770 Antique German Paperweight with Picture of Student in Fraternity Uniform.  circa 1870-1915.  This is an antique paperweight with a photograph or painting of a young man in a military type uniform.  The image is on a white enamel plaque and is either a painting or a hand colored photograph.  The enamel plaque is placed in the center of a spatter or frit ground.  An interesting and rare type of paperweight. The paperweight was most likely made in Germany or Silesia.  A great addition to any collection of antique European paperweights. 

Note:  There is a fracture surrounding the image that is caused by incompatibilities between the plaque and the surrounding glass.  This type of fracture is, unfortunately, fairly common in plaque weights of that period. 

After considerable research, I have concluded that the uniform is probably one used by a German or Austrian university student fraternity or student association.  Members of these student associations surrounded themselves with the symbols of their fraternities.  The uniforms are quite commonly depicted on German steins and other "studentica" of the period.   For more information, see http://stein-collectors.org/library/articles/Student/studentica.html

Size:  2 1/2” diameter by 1 3/4” high.  The bottom is fire finished with remnants of the pontil mark. 
Signature:  This paperweight is not signed, but I guarantee it to be an antique paperweight originating in Germany or one of the nearby countries. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  I could not find any significant damage on this paperweight.  However, as noted above, there is a incompatibility fracture surrounding the center plaque. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Base
New Price $185 (was $265)  postage paid in the US.                                            Repriced 7/27/2022

For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
5635 Webb Corbett Purple Flash Overlay Paperweight with Certificate.  1969-1986.  This Webb Corbett paperweight was produced during the period that Webb Corbett was owned by Royal Doulton.  It has a clear interior with no inner design and a transparent purple (or amethyst) flash overlay.  It is finished with one top facet, five side facets, and a star cut base.  It has its original foil label "FINEST ENGLISH FULL LEAD CRYSTAL ROYAL DOULTON MADE IN ENGLAND".  It also comes with its original Webb Corbett certificate declaring "Webb Corbett Fine English Hand Made Crystal PURPLE MULTI HOLLOW PAPERWEIGHT" and giving a history of the company.

Webb Corbett is one of the great names in English lead-crystal glass. It was set up in 1897 by two grandsons of Thomas Webb I, Herbert Webb and Thomas Webb III, together with George Harry Corbett.  The original company name was Thomas Webb and Corbett Limited.  It was a separate operation from Thomas Webb and Sons.  Thomas Webb and Corbett Ltd changed their name to Webb Corbett Ltd in the 1930's.  In 1969 the company was taken over by Royal Doulton and in 1986 they stopped using the Webb Corbett name.  Glass from the former Webb Corbett glassworks was then produced under the name Royal Doulton Crystal until this glassworks closed down.  After several mergers and reorganizations, Royal Doulton Crystal is now owned by the Finnish company Fiskars Corporation, along with Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood, and Iittala.  David Smith was the chief designer at Webb Corbett from 1965 until he left in 1982. He introduced a magnificent range of cameo glass designs using clear crystal with an overlay of colored glass.  The design was produced by sand blasting the glass to remove part of the colored layer.

Size:  2 15/16" diameter by just over 1 3/4" high.  The base is concave and finished with a star cut.  Faceted with one top facet and five side facets. 
Condition:  Very good condition.  There are some bubbles in the overlay and interior glass.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  The certificate is slightly wrinkled and has some stains.
Signature:  It has its original foil label "FINEST ENGLISH FULL LEAD CRYSTAL ROYAL DOULTON MADE IN ENGLAND".  It also comes with its original Webb Corbett certificate declaring "Webb Corbett Fine English Hand Made Crystal PURPLE MULTI HOLLOW PAPERWEIGHT". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Certificate
Profile
Top view
Base
$49 postage paid in the US.                              Added 7/23/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Webb Corbett Purple Flash Overlay Paperweight with Certificate
5364 Ray Banford Three Roses Paperweight on Indigo Aventurine Ground.  circa  1980.  This paperweight has three wonderful many petaled variegated pink roses with dark green leaves and stems.  It is signed near the stem with Ray Banford's signature cane having a red "B" on a white background.  The design is set on a dark indigo aventurine ground.  A wonderful three dimensional design from this skilled artist.

Note on lighting:  This paperweight is best displayed in bright lighting to so the dark green leaves and stem will contrast with the ground.

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.  

Size:  Just over 2 7/16" diameter by 2 1/16" high.  The base is polished concave.     
Signature:  Signed near the stem with a Ray Banford signature cane having a red "B" on a white background.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane
Side view
Another side view
Closeup 
Profile
Base
SOLD.                      Added 7/21/2022 

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Ray Banford Three Roses Paperweight on Indigo Aventurine Ground
5695 Whitefriars 1976 Bicentennial Liberty Bell Limited Edition Millefiori Paperweight with Certificate.  circa 1976.  This Whitefriars paperweight has a central picture cane depicting the Liberty Bell.  It is surrounded by thirteen white stars each with a blue background.  There is a special Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the years 1776 and 1976.  It also has its original paper label with a Whitefriars monk symbol and the text "WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND".  The colors are red, white, and blue to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  This weight is numbered 416 on the base.  The paperweight also comes with its original certificate which states that it is number 416 in a limited edition of 750 paperweights.  The paperweight is made using full lead crystal which gives it a brilliant finish.  It is faceted with a top facet and five side facets.

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 a while.

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.

Size:  3 1/8" diameter by 1 3/4" high.  The base is ground concave. Faceted with one top facet and five side facets. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  The certificate is slightly wrinkled.
Signature:  Signed in the design with a special Whitefriars signature cane.  The signature cane has a white monk and the dates 1776 and 1976 cane.  It also has its original paper label with a Whitefriars monk symbol and the text "WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND".  Numbered on the base with the number 416 and comes with its original certificate. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane
Side view
Certificate
Label
Engraved edition number on base (416)
Top view
Base
$265 postage paid in the US.                              Added 7/20/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Whitefriars 1976 Bicentennial Liberty Bell Limited Edition Millefiori Paperweight with Certificate
5619 Perthshire Annual Collection 1984D Limited Edition Pink Floral Spray Paperweight.  issued 1984.  This is a large light pink lampwork flower with five pink buds on a white double spiral latticinio cushion ground.  The flower has a yellow complex millefiori center.  The flower and buds have individual stems.  It is signed with Perthshire's complex "P" signature cane on the base.  This design was issued with blue flowers and with pink flowers in a limited edition of 400 paperweights, of which only 271 were made.  Great color and execution.

Note on color:  The actual color of the flower is a lighter pink than is shown in the pictures. 

Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1984.  This means the design was made only that one year and never again.  There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1984, 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. 

Large size:  2 15/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high.  The base is ground concave.
Signature: Signed with a Perthshire "P" complex signature on the base.  This paperweight does not have a label.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips or cracks or scratches. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
View of back.
Closeup
Signature cane on base
Profile
Side view
Base
$395 postage paid in the US.                                                              Added 7/20/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1984D Limited Edition Pink Floral Spray Paperweight
5584 Large Perthshire PP1 Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with 15 Panels on a Pink Ground.  circa 1978-1981.  A large patterned millefiori paperweight with 15 sections of floral millefiori canes over an opaque  pink ground.  The central design consists of two rings around a central signature cane.  This paperweight dates from 1978 - 1981 when the Perthshire PP1 pattern had 12 or more sections, each with a 1-1-2-2 or a 1-1-1-2-2 pattern of canes.  It is signed in the center with Perthshire's "P' signature cane and also has a worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND".  A stunning paperweight with soft colors.

Note:  This paperweight has 15 panels each with a 1-1-2-2 millefiori pattern.  The large number of panels is relatively rare.

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 over 3" in diameter by just under 2 1/8" high.  The bottom is ground concave. 
Signature:  It is signed in the center of the design with Perthshire's "P' signature cane and also has a paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND". 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.   The label is very worn and has writing on it.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Signature cane
Worn label on base
Base
$195 postage paid in the US.                                    Added 7/17/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Perthshire PP1 Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with 15 Panels on a Pink Ground
5567 Caithness Colin Terris Ballerina Limited Edition Flash Overlay Paperweight.   issued 1993.  This stunningly beautiful paperweight uses a pink swirl of lacy bubbles to depict a twirling ballerina.  The design is placed at the center of a transparent cobalt blue flash overlay.  This design was created by Colin Terris in 1993 and issued in a very limited edition of only 50 paperweights, of which this is number 42.  It is faceted with one large top facet and twelve smaller side facets in two rows.  The paperweight is engraved on the edge of the base "Ballerina Caithness Scotland 42/50".  It also has Selman auction label.  A beautiful design.

The BALLERINA design is listed and designated CT-931 on page 140 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights.  It was designed in 1993 by Colin Terris and released in a limited edition of only 50 paperweights.  The original issue price in the US was $595 and the Charlton Catalog lists the 2004 current value as $350.

Note about provenance:  The previous owner acquired this paperweight at the Selman Auction 44 (Fall  2009) Lot 298.  The auction estimate was $180-$250.

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.  Caithness is still operating in Crieff and making paperweights today (in 2022).

Large size:  Just under 3 1/8" diameter by just under 2 7/16" high.  The base is polished flat.  It is faceted with one large top facet and twelve smaller side facets in two rows.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Other than a few scratches on the base, no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. 
Signature:  This paperweight engraved on the edge of the base "Ballerina Caithness Scotland 42/50".

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Side view
Profile
Signature on base
Top view
Base
$175 postage paid in the US.                                     Added 7/16/2022

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Caithness Colin Terris Ballerina Limited Edition Flash Overlay Paperweight
4542 Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Mixed Fruit Paperweight.  circa 1869.  This is an antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) mixed fruit paperweight, consisting of five apples (or pears), four radishes (or cherries), four large leaves and four smaller leaves over a nearly perfect double swirl latticinio ground.  The fruit have bright vivid colors and the leaves show good definition.  The cruciform design is beautifully composed.  Unfortunately there are of striations (sugaring) in the glass that are exaggerated in the pictures.  The paperweight is in great condition and appears to have been restored in the past.  It displays beautifully.  

Many authors call the fruit pears and cherries.  I feel that they look more like apples and radishes.

The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley.  The Art of the Paperweight  - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. 

Size:  2 9/16" diameter by 1 13/16" high.  The base is ground concave.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches.  This paperweight has been professionally restored in the past.  The glass contains many striations (sugaring) as shown in the pictures.  This happened when the paperweight was made.  It is not damage. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be an authentic NEGC antique paperweight.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
View from the back
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side
Another side view
$395 postage paid in the US.                                                                      Added 7/15/2022

For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Mixed Fruit Paperweight
5352 Magnum Victor Trabucco Yellow Morning Glory Paperweight with buds.  circa 1988.  This paperweight consists of a large yellow morning glory flower with two yellow buds and leaves and stems on a transparent blue ground.  It is signed with Victor Trabucco's "VT" signature cane on the underside of a leaf.  There is also a very faint scratched signature on the base "Trabucco 1988".  A magnificent 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:   3 1/4" diameter by 2 3/4" high.  The base is ground slightly concave. 
Signature:  Signed  with Victor Trabucco's "VT" signature cane on the underside of a leaf.  There is also a very faint scratched signature on the base "Trabucco 1988".
Condition:  Outstanding condition with no scratches, chips or cracks.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Side view
Signature cane
Another view of signature cane
Base
Faint scratched signature on base
$750 postage paid in the US.                                                                Added 7/15/2022   

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Victor Trabucco Yellow Morning Glory Paperweight with buds
5960 Perthshire Annual Collection 1982H Limited Edition Double Overlay Floral Bouquet Paperweight.  issued 1982.  This is a special floral design featuring a bouquet of flowers within a blue and white double overlay cut deeply to show alternating blue and white sides.  The bouquet has three lampwork flowers and two opening buds with leaves and stems on on clear ground.  The flowers have complex millefiori centers.  There is a flat top facet, fancy cut side facets, and a star cut base.  The effect of the cutting is to make the overlay resemble blue and white petals.  There is a complex "P" signature cane next to the stem.  This paperweight is #37 of a limited edition of 300 weights, of which only 205 were made.  It comes with its original Perthshire certificate and box.  Great color and execution. 

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.  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. 

Size:  Just under 2 5/8" diameter by 1 3/4" high.  There is a fancy star cut on the base.
Signature: Signed with a Perthshire "P" complex signature cane near the stem.  This paperweight does not have a label.  This paperweight comes with the original certificate and box. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips or cracks or scratches.  There is some faint wear to the bottom of the overlay.  The box has some residue on it where I removed tape and labels. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Box with paperweight and certificate
Base with fancy cutting 
Closeup
Signature cane
Profile
Side view
Certificate
Box
$395 postage paid in the US.                                                              Added 7/14/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1982H Limited Edition Double Overlay Floral Bouquet Paperweight
5663 Caithness Colin Terris Moonflower (First Variation) Paperweight with Certificate.   First issued 1970.  This paperweight was the first abstract Caithness design.  It portrays the artist's impression of an extra terrestrial plant form.  The colors are a deep cobalt blue sculpture set on a purplish-red ground.  There are four larger large bubbles arranged around a central twist, plus many smaller bubbles carefully placed in the design.  This paperweight is etched on the base "Caithness MOONFLOWER Scotland" and engraved with the sequence number "C44921".  It comes with its original certificate.  A beautiful design.

The MOONFLOWER design is listed and designated CT-2 on page 3 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights.  It was designed in 1972 by Colin Terris and released in an unlimited edition.  There are many color variations.  Similar designs were issued in specific colors and also for Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee.  The version listed here is the original Moonflower 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.  Caithness is still operating in Crieff and making paperweights today (in 2022).

Large size:  Just over 3 1/16" diameter by just under 2 13/16" high.  The base is polished flat.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. 
Signature:  This paperweight etched on the base "Caithness MOONFLOWER Scotland" and engraved with the sequence number "C44921".  It comes with its original certificate.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Side view
Etched signature and engraved sequence number on base
Certificate
Top view
Another view
Base
SOLD.                                     Added 7/14/2022

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Caithness Colin Terris Moonflower (First Variation) Paperweight with Certificate
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.
Signature: Signed with a Perthshire "P 1981" signature / date cane on the base.  It also has a slightly worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.
Condition: Outstanding condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches.  The label is slightly worn.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Side view
Base
Signature Cane and label
Another view 
SOLD                                                 Added 7/9/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1981F Limited Edition Magnum Crown and Basket Paperweight
5640 Large Murano Crown Hollow Blown Paperweight - Probably Fratelli Toso.   circa 1950-1970.  Colorful Murano crown crown paperweight.  The weight is formed from 16 alternating strands of pink , red, and lavender twists.  This crown paperweight is unusual in that it is hollow blown with a large bubble in the center in the style of antique crown paperweights. Most modern crown paperweights are solid in the center.  A great example for any collector of paperweights or Murano glass.  Probably made by Fratelli Toso. 

Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs.  They are extremely difficult to make.  Hollow blown crown weights are even more difficult to make and are hard to find. 

A similar hollow crown paperweight appears on page 51 of the book Paperweights by Sibylle Jargstorf and is attributed to Fratelli Toso.

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.

Large Size:   Just under 2 15/16" diameter by 2 3/8" high.  The bottom is polished flat. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.  It was probably made by Fratelli Toso.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view
Closeup
Side view
Base
$135 postage paid in the US.                                 Added 7/7/2022

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Murano Crown Hollow Blown Paperweight - Probably Fratelli Toso
5558 Large Antique Baccarat Dupont Period Type III Pansy Paperweight with Star Cut Base.   circa 1900-1920.  Baccarat Pansy paperweight with leaves and stem.  The base is finished with a Baccarat star cut.  This paperweight is from Baccarat's Dupont period.  This style of pansy is called a type III pansy.  It consists of two large velvet purple petals above over three lower petals.  The lower petals are amber yellow over a white base.  Each lower petal has a purple tip and three dark lines radiating from the central cane consisting of star canes with a red whorl center.  A large paperweight in great shape.

Note:  This paperweight has been restored in the past and has a relatively flat profile.  There is plenty of glass and it could be reshaped to give it a proper profile.

Note about provenance:  The previous owner acquired this paperweight at the Selman Auction 37 (Fall  2006) Lot 41 and paid $460 including the bidders premium for the paperweight.

Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne.  The original location was near the town of Baccarat.  Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat.  Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.

  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.  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.

Large size:  3 1/8" diameter by 2" high.  The bottom is polished flat and finished with a Baccarat star cut base.  It has a relatively flat profile as shown in the pictures.
Condition: Excellent condition.  This paperweight has been restored in the past.  There are no chips, cracks, or scratches other than a few faint scratches on the base. 
Signature:  Made by Baccarat in France.  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is an antique Baccarat paperweight from the Dupont period. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
View from the back
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Base

$295 postage paid in the US.                                                                              Added 7/7/2022

For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page.      (dl-bac-ant)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Antique Baccarat Dupont Period Type III Pansy Paperweight with Star Cut Base
5665 Early Large Caithness Paul Ysart Designed Harlequin Single Paperweight.  circa 1976 or later.  This large paperweight features a brilliantly colored ground with bits of millefiori canes.  The ground is punctured with a large central bubble and eight outside bubbles.  Each bubble has an elongated stem extending to a hollow in the ground.  The underside of the ground is a transparent dark purple.  Paul Ysart made similar paperweights during his post war  Moncrieff period and is credited with designing this paperweight at Caithness.  The paperweight has brilliant colors and the glass is clear with a slight tint of grey.  It is etched on the base "Caithness HARLEQUIN SINGLE Scotland" and has a registration number "C102281".  There is also a "CG" signature cane in the design.  A beautiful paperweight.

The HARLEQUIN SINGLE design is listed and designated CT-10 on page 5 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights.  It was designed by Paul Ysart in 1972.  Early copies were made (1972-1975) by Peter Holmes and signed with a "PH" signature cane.  Copies made later were signed 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.

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.  Caithness is still operating in Crieff and making paperweights today (in 2022).

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.

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. 

Size:  3 1/8" diameter by 2 5/8" high.  The base is ground flat. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Minor wear on the base, but no other scratches found on inspection.  And no chips or cracks.
Signature:  It is signed with an acid etch on the base "Caithness HARLEQUIN SINGLE Scotland" and has a registration number "C102281".  There is also a "CG" signature cane in the design.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Signature and registration number on base
Signature cane
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                     Added 7/5/2022   

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Early Large Caithness Paul Ysart Designed Harlequin Single Paperweight
4064 Orient & Flume Iridescent Figural Pear Paperweight.  circa 2003.  Wonderful hand crafted Orient & Flume pear paperweight having a stem and leaf.  The surface is has a light green iridescent sheen.  Signed on the base "Orient & Flume GQT3".  A wonderful example. 

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.  Every Orient & Flume piece has a registration number which usually includes a date code.  In this case, I believe the "G" is for 2003. 

Size:  2 9/16" diameter by just over 4 7/16" high including the stem.  The bottom has been ground flat. 
Signature:    Signed in script on the bottom "Orient & Flume GQT3". 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips or cracks or scratches found on inspection. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Back view
Signature on base
Another view
Base
$75 postage paid in the US.                               Added 7/4/2022

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Orient & Flume Iridescent Figural Pear Paperweight
4062 Large Caithness 1993 Margot Thomson Gold Congratulations (Style Two) Abstract Paperweight.   issued in 1993.  This abstract Caithness paperweight depicts a woven gold "cap" with four descending tassels.  There are carefully placed bubbles at the corners of the cap and at the tip of each tassel.  All of this is surrounded by a mist of transparent  white glass.  The paperweight is signed on the base "Caithness CONGRATULATIONS Scotland" along with a registration number "T89628".  Designed by Margot Thomson. 

This design is listed and designated CT-985 on page 147 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights.  It was designed in 1993 by Margot Thomson as part of the Weight - Spherical series.  The paperweight is recorded as coming in three colors (Gold, Ruby, and Silver).  

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.  Caithness is still operating in Crieff and making paperweights today (in 2022).

Large size:  3 1/8" diameter by just under 2 7/8" high.  The base is polished flat. 
Condition:  Very good to excellent condition.  There are scratches on the base but no other chips or cracks or scratches found on inspection. 
Signature:  It is signed on the base "Caithness CONGRATULATIONS Scotland" along with a registration number "T89628" (registration number not shown in pictures). 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Signature on base (registration number not shown)
Top view
Closeup
Base
$45 postage paid in the US.                                  7/4/2022

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Caithness 1993 Margot Thomson Gold Congratulations (Style Two) Abstract Paperweight
5685 Rare Whitefriars 1976 Bicentennial Millefiori Flag Limited Edition Paperweight - damaged.  circa 1976.  This is a hard to find Whitefriars Bicentennial Paperweight featuring a millefiori mosaic of the American Flag.  There are thirteen blue and white canes for stars and four red and three white canes for the stripes.  A gold cane makes provides a staff .  In the background there is a white and gold carpet ground of millefiori canes and also a millefiori garland of blue and white canes on the outside.  This weight is numbered 135 on the base.  There is a special Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the years 1776 and 1976.  It also has its original paper label with a Whitefriars monk symbol and the text "WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND".  The paperweight also comes with its original (wrinkled) certificate which states that it is number 135 in a limited edition of 150 paperweights.  The paperweight is made using full lead crystal which gives it a brilliant finish.  It is faceted with a top facet and five side facets. 

This is an especially rare Whitefriars paperweight.  Although the edition size was planned for 1,000 paperweights, very few were made due to the complexity of the design made setup and pickup very difficult.  The certificate states that only 150 were actually made.  It was made for sale in the US only.

Note on condition:  This paperweight has a 1/4" chip on the edge of the base (as shown in the pictures) and some light scratches near the chip.  In spite of this it displays beautifully. 

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 a while.

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.

Size:  3 1/16 diameter by 1 3/4" high.  The base is ground concave. Faceted with one top facet and five side facets. 
Condition:  Good condition.  There is one 1/4" chip on the edge of the base and some light scratches near the chip.  No other chips, cracks or scratches.  The certificate is wrinkled.
Signature:  Signed in the design with a special Whitefriars signature cane.  The signature cane has a white monk and the dates 1776 and 1976 cane.  It also has its original paper label with a Whitefriars monk symbol and the text "WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND".  Numbered on the base with the number 135 and comes with its original certificate. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane
Side view with label
Certificate
Closeup
Chip on edge of base
Bottom view with engraved edition number (135)
Profile
Base
$235 postage paid in the US.                              Added 6/18/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Whitefriars 1976 Bicentennial Millefiori Flag Limited Edition Paperweight - damaged
5690 Great Early Robert Eickholt Translucent Double Hearts Paperweight. Circa 1981.  This surface decorated  paperweight consists of a hearts and vines design with two hearts on the surface of a translucent gold colored paperweight.  This is an early Robert Eickholt paperweight and is signed on the bottom "R. Eickholt 1981".  Eickholt called this design "Double Hearts."

Robert Eickholt has been making glass paperweights since 1978 when he founded Eickholt Glass in Columbus, Ohio.  His designs often make use of precious metals such as gold and silver, and rare oxides such as cobalt and copper.  This is an early example of the use of gold color.  In later paperweights by Eickholt the design moved to the interior and veiling techniques began to appear.  He retired in 2013.

Large Size:  3 1/8" diameter by 2 15/16" high.  The base is polished flat. 
Signature: Signed "R. Eickholt 1981" on the base. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks or chips.  The surface shows some variation in color, which I believe was deliberate.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature on base
Profile
Back
Side view
Closeup
Base
$125 postage paid in the US.                      Added 6/18/2022

For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Great Early Robert Eickholt Translucent Double Hearts Paperweight
5566 Large Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight.  circa 1963-1968.  This very attractive paperweight consists of a paneled millefiori pattern with nine panels of 1 (blue) + 2 (red) + 2 (orange and white) millefiori patterns each separated by a white latticinio twist cane.  There is a central ring of seven dark blue  millefiori canes and then a center orange and white millefiori cane.  The canes are early Scottish millefiori canes on an opaque black ground.  This paperweight has its original Strathearn paper label "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base.  It also has a sticker from an early Selman auction.  This is a great addition to any collection of Scottish paperweights.  Great color.

This paperweight has a sticker on the base from an early Selman Online Auction (Auction 7 Lot 68).  This is online auction is different from the auctions that had print catalogs.  The previous owner paid $200 for this paperweight.

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.

Large size:   Just under 3” diameter by 2 1/4” high.  The base is fire polished. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection other than minor wear on the base. 
Signature:  This paperweight has its original Strathearn paper label "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Label and auction sticker on base
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
$125 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 6/17/2022    

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight
5622 Large St. Louis 1983 Heart Garland with Six Flower Bouquet Limited Edition Paperweight.  dated 1983.  This paperweight features a wonderful multi-colored six flower bouquet with green stems and leaves surrounded by a heart shaped garland of identical complex white canes.  There is a larger ten petal red double poinsettia in the center surrounded by five slightly smaller five petal flowers (two white, two blue, and one pink).  Each flower has a complex millefiori center.  The design is placed on a mauve ground.  It is signed in the center of the base with a St. Louis "SL 1983" complex signature / date cane.  It also has its original "CRISTAL SAINT LOUIS FRANCE" foil label.  This paperweight was issued in 1983 in a limited edition of 400 paperweights.  An especially nice paperweight with great color and execution.

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 2 15/16" diameter by just under 2" high.  The bottom is ground concave.
Signature : Signed in the center of the base with a St. Louis "SL 1983" complex signature / date cane.  It also has its original "CRISTAL SAINT LOUIS FRANCE" foil label.    
Condition :  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.  Very slight wear on the base.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
St. Louis Signature / Date Cane
Label
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
$645 postage paid in the US.                                           Added 6/17/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large St. Louis 1983 Heart Garland with Six Flower Bouquet Limited Edition Paperweight
4642 Baccarat Rare 1972 Experimental Design Blue and White Flower with Buds Paperweight.  dated 1972.  This modern lampwork paperweight features a blue and white five petal flower with two buds, leaves, and stems.  There is a nice complex millefiori cane in the center of the flower.  The design is placed over an opaque white ground.  This was one of the experimental paperweights Baccarat created in the 1970-1973 period.  These designs were often one of a kind or very small editions.  It is signed with a Baccarat's complex "B 1972" signature / date cane near the base of the flower.  This paperweight is also signed on the base with an acid etched Baccarat mark along with the engraved year (1972) and sequence number (8).  There is also a second acid etched Baccarat mark on the base.  A fantastic paperweight.

Note:  After extensive research in the Baccarat archives, Paul Dunlop concluded that from 1970 to 1973 Baccarat made over 50 experimental designs.  All were made as one-offs or very small numbers.  Technically they are not limited editions since they were never listed as production items.  This paperweight is similar to one of the 1971 experimental paperweights illustrated in Dunlop's book (see page 179).  The book shows a design with two different colored flowers, buds, leaves and stems on a yellow ground.

Note on pictures:  The white base and high dome made this paperweight difficult to photograph and resulted in shadows inside the paperweight.  In proper light it displays beautifully.  

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.
  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.

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.

Large size:  Just under 3 3/16" diameter by 2 1/4" high.  The base is polished flat.
Signature:  The paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1972" signature / date cane near the base of the flower.  This paperweight is also signed on the base with an acid etched Baccarat mark along with the engraved year (1972) and sequence number (8).  There is also a second acid etched Baccarat mark on the base. 
Condition:   Excellent condition.  With the exception of light wear on the base, no cracks, chips, or scratches were found on inspection.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane "B 1972"
Baccarat logo, date, and sequence number on base
Closeup
Profile
Side view
View of base showing both Baccarat marks
Base
$395 postage paid in the US.                                                         Added 6/17/2022

For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat Rare 1972 Experimental Design Blue and White Flower with Buds Paperweight
5694 Magnum Orrefors Eva Englund Arne Lindblom Nypronos Floral Paperweight.  circa 1974 - 1989.  This Orrefors (Sweden) paperweight is surface decorated with a hand painted European red rose flower nyponros (or sweet briar).  The flower is depicted with a bud, stem, and leaves.  There is also a single bud with stem and leaves on the backside.  The paperweight is formed from clear crystal and appears to be hollow in the center.  It was designed by the Swedish glass artist Eva Englund and hand painted by Arne Lindblom.  It is signed by both artists with a green signature below the rose "EE" over "AL".  It also has an "Orrefors Sweden" label on the side.  It is a warm and comfortable design.

Orrefors Glassworks was founded in 1898 in Swedish village Orrefors in Smεland on the same site where iron works operations had been run since 1726.  In the same year that the glassworks was founded, a hot shop was built for making technical, medical and household glass and stemware.  Glass now replaced the less profitable iron works operations.  In 1913, Consul Johan Ekman from Gothenburg became the new owner of Orrefors Glassworks.  He appointed Albert Ahlin as manager of the glassworks and this marked the start of a new era.  In 1914, Orrefors started manufacturing crystal products, and as well as cut crystal.  They also made art glass using the overlay technique with etched decoration. The new management quickly saw that artists were needed in the business, so Simon Gate was employed in 1916 and was joined by Edward Hald in 1917.  Gate and Hald experimented with with figure engraving and with the new innovative graal glass technique that was developed at Orrefors by the master glassblower Knut Bergqvist, resulting in major recognition at the Gothenburg Exhibition in 1923 and the Paris Exhibition in 1925.  In 1989, Orrefors and Kosta Boda merged to form Orrefors Kosta Boda AB.  Ownership changed again in 2005 with the purchase of the glassworks by the New Wave Group which decided to close the Orrefors glassworks in December 2012.  After that, all glass production was done under the KostaBoda brand label.

Eva Margareta Englund (1937 - 1998) was a designer and artist who worked in the Swedish glass industry from 1964-1990, after which she became an independent glass artist.  She studied ceramics before switching to glass after viewing a 1963 exhibition of the designer Ingeborg Lundin held at Orrefors glassworks.  In 1964 she was appointed as successor to Gφran and Ann Wδrff as artistic contributor to Pukeberg Glasbruk and in 1974 switched to Orrefors Glasbruk where she created drink ware as well as advanced artistic glassware. Her drink ware often includes decorative hand-painted floral and foliage designs, but the emphasis of her output lay in advanced Graal glass.

Arne Lindblom was a decorator working for Orrefors in the 1970s and 1980s, frequently decorating designs created by Eva Englund.  I have no additional information.

Very large size:  3 1/2" diameter by 2 1/2"high.  The base is polished with a concavity in the center.   
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Some scratches on the base.  Otherwise, no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed by both artists with a green signature below the rose "EE" over "AL".  It also has an "Orrefors Sweden" label on the side.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Backside
Label
Signature
Base
Profile
$45 postage paid in the US.                                                           Added 6/16/2022

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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Orrefors Eva Englund Arne Lindblom Nypronos Floral Paperweight
4977 Colorful Pauline Solven Cowdy Glass Spiral Paperweight from Newent, Gloucestershire.  circa 1978-2004.  This Cowdy Glass paperweight features a wonderful two color green spiral with a clear teardrop in the center.  The spiral is made from three dark and light green stringers.  Signed "Cowdy" on the fire finished base with no date.  A fun paperweight with precise execution.

Note:  Special thanks to a Facebook user who identified the maker of this paperweight as Pauline Solven at Cowdy Glass.

Note2:  The signature on this paperweight is hard to read.  I colored the signature with a washable marker to make it easier to see.
  
Cowdy Glass Workshops was founded by Pauline Solven and her husband Harry Cowdy in 1978.  It was located in Newent, Gloucestershire.  Pauline was the lead glass artist at Cowdy but also continued to work at her own studio her own studio, Ravenshill, which she founded in 1975.  Solven studied glass at the Royal College of Art, London, where a small furnace had been set up by Sam Herman, a former student of Harvey Littleton.  Herman eventually asked Solven to manage The Glasshouse, the first place in England where the public could watch glass artists at work in the studios.  Starting in 2004, Solven has worked exclusively in kiln-fused panels.  Her work can be found in many shops and museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass.  I do not know if she is still active. 

Size:  2 5/8" diameter by 2 1/2" high.  The base is fire finished.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed "Cowdy" on the fire finished base.  The signature on this paperweight is hard to read.  I colored the signature with a washable marker to make it easier to see.  The pictures show the signature with the coloring and without the coloring.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature with coloring
Signature without coloring
Profile
Top view
Base
$49 postage paid in the US.                            Added 6/13/2022

For more information about paperweights by English makers, see my English Paperweights Web Page .

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Colorful Pauline Solven Cowdy Glass Spiral Paperweight from Newent, Gloucestershire
4975 Miniature Murano Three Ring Millefiori Paperweight.   circa 1960-1980.  Colorful miniature millefiori paperweight from Murano with a red white and blue theme.  This paperweight has three rings of cogged millefiori around a nice center cane.  It is in excellent condition.  The paperweight is unsigned.  A fun item.

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.

Miniature size:  Just over 1 13/16" diameter by just under 1 1/2" high.  The base is polished flat.
Condition:   Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  There are some small bubbles in the glass. 
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee that this paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                          Added 6/5/2022

For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page .

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Miniature Murano Three Ring Millefiori Paperweight
5599 Perthshire 1982 PP49 Limited Edition Patterned Millefiori Paperweight with Complex Canes.  dated 1982.  This medium sized millefiori paperweight has a large complex center cane surrounded by four large complex canes and a closepacked carpet of many smaller pink canes.  Three pairs of large complex canes surround the center cluster.  The perimeter of the paperweight has a garland with three large half circles and three small half circles, each with a large complex cane in the center.  The design is placed over a translucent green ground.  It is signed with a Perthshire "P 1982" date / signature cane in the center of the base and also has its original worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.  The PP49 design was issued in a limited edition only in 1982, with the edition size unknown.  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:  Just over 2 5/8" diameter by 1 15/16" high.  The base is polished concave.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with Perthshire's complex "P 1982" signature cane in the center of the base.  It also has its original worn paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Some wear on the base, but no other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane and label on base
Profile view
Side view
Base
$345 postage paid in the US.                                               Added 6/4/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire 1982 PP49 Limited Edition Patterned Millefiori Paperweight with Complex Canes
5561 Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Millefiori Scramble Paperweight with Rabbits.  circa 1860.  This is an antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) scramble or end of day paperweight.  It is filled with a wonderful assortment of colorful millefiori canes, twists, and other glass bits.  There are at least two different running rabbit canes, one visible from the top and the other visible from the bottom.  Excellent condition.  I believe this paperweight has been restored.  You will enjoy studying the variety of millefiori canes in it visible from both the top and the base.

This paperweight has a sticker on the base from the Selman Auction 44 (Fall  2009) Lot 96.  The previous owner paid $575 ($500 plus a 15% bidders premium) for this paperweight.  The catalog says there are two rabbit canes visible from the underside, but I could only find one.

Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory. 

The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley.  The Art of the Paperweight  - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. 

Size:  Just under 2 7/8” diameter by 1 3/4” high.  The base is ground concave.  The profile is relatively flat.
Signature:  This paperweight is not signed, but I guarantee it to be an authentic antique New England Glass Company paperweight. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  I believe this paperweight has been restored.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view showing one rabbit cane
View from base showing rabbit and Selman label
Closeups of two rabbit canes
Another view of base
SOLD.                                                Added 6/3/2022

For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Millefiori Scramble Paperweight with Rabbits
5894 Large Faceted Strathearn Spaced Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Early Scottish Canes.  dated 1979.  This fine Strathearn spaced millefiori on lace paperweight features sixteen early Scottish millefiori canes that were originally made in the Moncrieff (Monart) or Vasart period.  The paperweight was made by either David Moir or Herbert Dreier and has a (distorted) Strathearn complex signature cane "S 79" on the base.  The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five side facets.  This would make a fantastic addition addition to any collection of Scottish paperweights.

According to David Moir, the millefiori canes in this paperweight are old Monart type canes that were brought with by the Ysarts when they left Moncrieff.  They were never used and kept out of the way until David Moir and Herbert Dreier were given permission to use them in 1979 by the management at Teachers Whiskey (who owned Strathearn).  Some of the individual canes might be attributed to Salvadore during the early Vasart period rather than Monart.    

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 factory was taken over by Stuart Glass in 1980 and renamed Stuart Strathearn Ltd.  After 1980, this factory ceased production of paperweights and stopped all production in 1992.  Stuart Crystal ceased all operations in 2001.

David Quintin Moir (born 1939) started as an apprentice at Vasart (Ysart Brothers Shore Road works) in 1954.  He stayed when the name was changed to Strathearn and left in 1980.  He often contributes to discussions of Scottish glass on Facebook.

Herbert Dreier (born 1942 to an Austrian coal-mining family) was originally destined to work in the mines, but he left to join a glass factory in Bδrnbach, Austria where served a three year apprenticeship.  In 1960, he moved to Germany where he worked for Peill Butzler, Dren, Germany as a glass blower.  He and a friend responded to an advertisement for Caithness Glass and moved to Wick, Scotland, where he worked as a glass blower under Paul Ysart from 1963-65, later moving to Strathearn Glass as Master Craftsman.  He remained with Strathearn through the takeover by Stuart Crystal and had a number of positions with Stuart Crystal.  When Stuart ceased operation in 2001, he moved to Plowden & Thompson in Stourbridge as a Master Craftsman.  In a life-time devoted to the art of glassblowing, Herbert Dreier’s repertoire encompassed paperweights, lamp-bases, decorative bowls, vases and three-dimensional decorative pieces.

Size:   3” diameter by 2 3/16" high.  The base is polished flat.  The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five side facets.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Minor wear on the base, but no other  scratches found on inspection.  No cracks or chips.
Signature:  Signed with a (distorted) Strathearn complex signature cane "S 79" on the base.  The millefiori canes in this paperweight were taken from a reserve dating from the Monart period (at Moncrieff) or early Vasart production. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane
Closeup
Top view
Base
Side view
$395 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 5/25/2022    

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Faceted Strathearn Spaced Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Early Scottish Canes
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.

  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.

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.
Signature:  The paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1975" in the design.  It also has an acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the the year (1975) and edition number (262). 
Condition:   Excellent condition.  There are some light scratches on the base, but no other chips, cracks, or scratches were found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane "B 1975"
Baccarat Logo, date, and edition number on base
Side view
Closeup
Another closeup
Profile
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat 1975 Gridel Series Millefiori Black Monkey Limited Edition Paperweight
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). 
Signature:  Signed with a Perthshire "P" signature cane in the center of the design.  It also has a worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  The label is worn and dirty.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane
Label
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Base
SOLD.                                         Added 5/14/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire PP2 Medium Paneled Millefiori Paperweight
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. 
Condition:  Very good 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.
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee this paperweight to be made by Pairpoint Glass.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Base
Another side view
Faint circular impact mark (3/16")
Faint scratch (3/16")
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Pairpoint Faceted Red Rose Paperweight
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 1888You 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.
Condition:  Very good condition for its age with only minor scratches and a few very small nicks.  This may have been restored in the distant past.
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee this to be an authentic New England Glass Company antique paperweight.  Circa 1860 - 1888. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Side view
Close up
Base
$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.
Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Salmon Red Double Poinsettia Paperweight on a Blue and White Jasper Ground
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.
Signature:  Signed with Robert Banford's signature "B" cane at the tip of the stem.
Condition:  Very good condition.  There is some wear on the base.  I found one faint (1/16") scratch on the side.  And a small indent or tool mark also on the side.  There is also a 3/16" flaw near the base of this of the paperweight.  It is not a chip or crack.  There are some bubbles in the glass.  No other flaws found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature cane
Another closeup
Side view
Flaw near base (3/16")
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Robert Banford Blue Clematis with Buds and Dragonfly Paperweight
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.
Signature:  This paperweight 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).   
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  There are some bubble in the ground. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane and and label on base
Certificate
Side view
Base
Profile
Signature cane
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1982B Limited Edition Flamingo Paperweight with Certificate
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.
Condition:   Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection, but I could have some faint scratches due to the bubbles and striations in the glass.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a paperweight by Ed Rithner from 1940 - 1970.  As is typical of Ed Rithner paperweights there are small bubbles in the design.  The bottom finish is typical of Rithner, with the remnants of the pontil mark ground out with a frosted finish.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Side view
Base with ground out center
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Ed Rithner Multi-Colored Candy Cane Millefiori Paperweight
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.
Condition:   Very good condition. Some small scratches.  One nick on the side of the knob.  No cracks.
Signature:  Signed with a worn Fratelli Toso silver foil label with a conjoined "ft" and "MADE IN ITALY MURANO GLASS". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Label
Another view
Base - note hole
Another view with label
Still another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Fratelli Toso Murano Block Shaped Millefiori Paperweight with Handle
5662 Caithness 1983 Colin Terris Sea Dance Paperweightissued 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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  With the exception of some faint scratches on the base, no other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  This paperweight etched on the base "Caithness SEADANCE Scotland".  There is also an engraved registration number H103099".  It comes with its original certificate.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Another view
Certificate
Etched signature and engraved registration number on base
Closeup
Side view
Top view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Caithness 1983 Colin Terris Sea Dance Paperweight
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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches.   
Signature:  It is signed "R. Strong 2003" on the edge just above the base.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile view
Side view
Signature
Closeup
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Randy Strong 2003 Abstract Flat Top Iridescent Millefiori Paperweight
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.
Condition:   Very good condition.  I found a small scuffed area on the side and some light scratches on the base.  No chips or cracks.    
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.     

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Signature
Profile
Base
Side view
SOLD.                            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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Unusual Magnum Murano Paperweight with Floral Decoration on Blue Plaque
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.
Signature:  This paperweight 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 comes with its original Perthshire box.  There is no label or certificate with this paperweight. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature cane and PMcD signature on base
Paperweight with box
Side view
Base
Top view
Another side view
Third side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1981C Limited Edition Magnum Aquarium Paperweight
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.
Signature: Signed with a "MADE IN CHINA" paper label on the back.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  There are a few minor scratches on the back, but no other scratches or chips found on inspection.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side
Back
Label
Another view showing flat base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Chinese Yellow Millefiori  Peacock Paperweight
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.
Signature:  This paperweight is unsigned, but I guarantee it is from China and dates from the 1940 thru 1960.
Condition:  Good condition with no cracks or chips.  There are some slight surface scratches.  As is typical of Chinese paperweights from this period, the glass has some debris and bubbles.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Profile
Another view
Closeup
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Chinese Miniature Orange Butterfly on Green Ground Paperweight
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.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with a complex "P" signature cane in the center of the base.  It also has a special millennium date cane "2000" in the design.  It comes with its original certificate and box.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Special date cane in design
Signature cane on base
Certificate
Box with certificate and paperweight
Top view
Side view
Base
SOLD.                                               Added 4/23/2022

For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Millennium Special Limited Edition Paperweight with Box & Certificate
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.
  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.

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.
Signature:  The paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1987" in the design.  It also has an acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the engraved year (1987) and edition number (64). 
Condition:   Excellent condition.  With the exception of light wear on the base, no cracks, chips, or scratches were found on inspection.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane "B 1987"
Baccarat logo, date, and edition number on base
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat 1987 Special Edition Double Trefoil Millefiori Paperweight
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.
Condition:  Very good condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  There are striations in the glass.  Also, the millefiori canes are pale and transparent, making it difficult to see the details.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee it was made at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore, Massachusetts.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Side view
Closeup
Base
SOLD.                                            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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
5664 Large Caithness 1985 Limited Edition Flair US Collectors Club PaperweightThis 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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  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. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Certificate
Profile
Engraved "CAITHNESS SCOTLAND FLAIR US COLLECTORS PAPERWEIGHT" and 99/500 on base
Top view
Side view
SOLD.                                     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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Caithness 1985 Limited Edition Flair US Collectors Club Paperweight
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.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed on the base with a scratch signature "CHINA".
Condition:  Good condition with no cracks or big chips.  There are surface nicks and scratches on the body and age appropriate wear on the base.  As is typical of Chinese paperweights from this period, the glass has many tiny bubbles and one larger bubble over one wing.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Scratched signed "CHINA" signature
Profile
Side view
Closeup
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare 1930s Chinese Butterfly Paperweight
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.  
Signature: Signed in the design with a signature cane "PB 1989".  This paperweight also has a very worn silver label on the base that has a drawing of two bells and the text "PARABELLE GLASS Rings True HANDMADE IN USA"  
Condition:  Good condition with some manufacturing defects.  There is a 1/8" scratch on the side as shown in one of the pictures and minor wear on the base.  The ground color is uneven and there are some defects in the surface of the ground.  No other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile view 
Worn label on base 
Signature cane
Base
Side view
Defects - flaw on ground and scratch
SOLD.                 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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Parabelle Glass 1989 Limited Edition Looped Millefiori Garland on Opaque Blue Ground Paperweight
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. 
Condition: Excellent condition.  Faint scratches on the base, but no other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed on the base "Kosta Wδrff Jewel 8". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Top view
Profile
Signature on base
SOLD.                                           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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Kosta Wδrff Jewel 8 Abstract Footed Paperweight
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.
Signature:  Signed and dated on the base "Maytum Studio 1988 Rudin ©".
Condition:  Excellent condition.  There are some scratches on the base, but no other cracks, chips or scratches found on inspection.  There are some tiny bubbles in the pink color.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Profile
Top view
Signature on base
Side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Sarah Rudin Maytum Studio Iridescent Translucent Pink Twist Paperweight
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.
Signature : Signed in the center of the flower with a St. Louis "SL 1970" yellow and white complex signature / date.  The cane is rotated in its placement (almost upside down).  
Condition :  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.  There are some striations in the glass.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
St. Louis Signature / Date
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum St. Louis 1970 Faceted Red Double Clematis Paperweight
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
Closeup
Profile
Signature Cane
Base
Side view
$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)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature Yellow Lampwork Flower with Pink Ground Paperweight
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.
Signature:  Signed with a complex "SL 1980" signature cane on the base.  It comes with its original certificate.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Top view
Signature cane
Side view
Certificate
Closeup
Another side view
Base
SOLD.                                                      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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large St. Louis 1980 Pansy on Lace Ground Limited Edition Paperweight with Fancy Cutting
5661 Caithness 1987 Colin Terris Pink Champagne Paperweightissued 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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  With the exception of some faint scratches on the base, no other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  This paperweight etched on the base "Caithness PINK CHAMPAGNE Scotland".  There is also a hard to read registration number which I think is H120776" or "11120776".

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Another view
Etched signature on base
Registration number
Top view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Caithness 1987 Colin Terris Pink Champagne Paperweight
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.  
Signature:  Signed with Robert Banford's signature "B" cane at the tip of the stem.  The cutting is by Ed Poore.
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
Closeup
Profile
Signature cane
Closeup from the side
Side view
Base
$850 postage paid in the US.                     US Sales only, no international shipping.   Delivery will require a signature.                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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Robert Banford Red Clematis with Buds and Bee Faceted Paperweight with Fancy Base Cutting
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No damage found on inspection.   
Signature:  This paperweight has a Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Base
Label
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Miniature Strathearn Eight Pointed Star Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Turquoise Ground
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.
Signature:  It is signed in script on the base "SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND CALYPSO 51/500 1988" and comes with its original certificate.
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
Top view
Signature on base
Certificate
Side view
Profile
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Selkirk 1988 Limited Edition Abstract Calypso Paperweight with Certificate
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  There are some striations and a tiny bit of frit debris in the glass.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a paperweight by Ed Rithner from 1940 - 1970.  As is typical of Ed Rithner paperweights there are small bubbles in the design.  The bottom finish is typical of Rithner, with the remnants of the pontil mark ground out with a matte finish. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side View
Profile
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Ed Rithner Eight Petal Teal Flower Paperweight
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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection. The paper label is worn.
Signature:  Signed in cane with a Whitefriars 1978 cane and also has a worn Whitefriars paper label "WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Signature Cane
Profile
View from the back
Label
Base
Side view with paper label
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Whitefriars 1978 Christmas Millefiori Paperweight - The Journey to Bethlehem
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.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with a complex "P" signature cane near the base of the stem.  It does not have a paper label.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Signature cane near the stem
Base with star cut
Profile
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1978C Limited Edition Bluebell Faceted Paperweight
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.   
Signature:   Unsigned but I guarantee that this paperweight is from China and dates from about 1930. 
Condition:  Very good condition.  The surface has a few indentations  and faint scratches, but is mostly smooth.  No chips or cracks.  As is often typical in this type of Chinese paperweight, the quality of the glass is low and there is debris in the glass.  The glass has a soft almost oily feel and has a slight greenish tinge.  There are some tiny bubbles in the glass. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
Another 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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Large Chinese White Paperweight with Squirrel Eating Grapes
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No damage found on inspection.  There is a slight dimple on the top and some tool marks on the surface.
Signature:  Signed on the base with an acid etched "Royal Brierley Studio" - although the etch was applied in reverse.  Please review the pictures as I show the etch in its reversed form and a mirror image that is more legible.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Top view
Profile
Closeup
Etched signature on base
Signature and more legible mirror image of signature
Side view
Base

$125 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 2/3/2022

For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Iridized Royal Brierley Studio (Isle of Wight Studio Glass) Paperweight
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. 
Condition:  Excellent Condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped JOE ST. CLAIR on the base.  This probably dates from the 1960s or 1970s, but may be earlier.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature on base
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Base
SOLD.                           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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink and White Icepick Flower Paperweight
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.    
Signature:   Unsigned but I guarantee that this paperweight is from China and dates from about 2000.  It was originally marketed on the QVC television network and was sold as a "lamp" with a lighted stand.  There is no stand with this copy.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  I found no chips, cracks, or scratches on inspection.  It does have manufacturing flaws in the basket staves and the torsade forming the lip of the top and base (see side view).  There are a few small bubbles. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view
Closeup
Profile
Side view (note flaws in torsade and staves)
Base
Another side view
Upside down
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Chinese Copy of the Famous Clichy Millefiori Basket Paperweight - Heart Shaped
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).
Condition:  Very good condition.  One tiny bruise (less than 1/8" across) found on the side next to the base when taking pictures. Not noticed in earlier inspections.  No other chips, cracks or scratches. A few tiny bubbles in the glass.
Signature:  Signed with an acid etch mark on the base with the name Rosenthal, the crown and crossed swords logo, and Studio-Linie underneath.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Side view
Profile
Rosenthal Studio-Linie mark on base
Closeup
Upside down
Tiny bruise (<1/8") on side near base
Base
View from back
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Rosenthal Studio-Linie Swirl Paperweight
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.
Signature:  Signed with a stretched "T" signature cane on the back of a leaf.  No script signature.  I verified with Victor Trabucco that this is the work of David and Jon and is not Victor's own work. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no scratches, chips or cracks.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Signature cane on back of leaf
View from back
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large David and Jon Trabucco Faceted Yellow Flower Paperweight with Buds
4285 Magnum Caithness 1977 Colin Terris Jubilee Moonflower Limited Edition Paperweightdated 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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  The label has writing on it. 
Signature:  This paperweight is engraved "EiiR 1952 - 1977" and the number 501.  Also has a worn Caithness label "CG HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" with writing on it.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Profile
Engraved EiiR 1952-1977 501 and label on base
Top view
Another view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Caithness 1977 Colin Terris Jubilee Moonflower Limited Edition Paperweight
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.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with an engraved "P" on the base.  It does not have a paper label.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Grid cut on base
Side view
Signature on facet near base
Base
Another view of base
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1989F Limited Edition Cherries Faceted Paperweight
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. 
Signature:  Signed "MADE IN CHINA" on three white signature canes in the design. 
Condition:  Very good condition for Chinese paperweights from this period.  Some light scratches, but no chips or cracks found on inspection.  The glass has a soft oily feel.  There are some bubbles in the glass.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature canes
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
Another side view
View of reverse side
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Chinese Scramble Paperweight with "MADE IN CHINA" Signature Canes
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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  There are some small bubbles in the glass.
Signature:  It has a Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1975 in the outermost white ring and also has a Whitefriars paper label.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:  

Large picture
Closeup
Another closeup from the side
Signature cane
Label
Top view
Side view
Base
View through the bottom
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Whitefriars Faceted Six Ring Red White & Blue Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
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 1888You 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. 
Signature:  This paperweight is not signed, but I guarantee it to be an authentic antique New England Glass Company blown glass pear paperweight. 
Condition:  Good condition.  While there is no crackling, 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.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view
Base
Loss of color and stripe near blossom end
Another view
Stem end
Another view of blossom end
Fracture on base of pear visible through clear cookie
Another base view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) Blown Glass Pear Paperweight - Good Condition
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".    
Condition: Very good condition for its age.  It has considerable wear on the base and some scratches.  There is some stray red color inside the glass.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is an antique paperweight from Bohemia or Germany.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Side view
Base
Closeup
Profile
Another closeup
$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)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image
German or Bohemian Souvenir Paperweight with Ruby Stain Engraved Scene of Mόnster in Freiburg
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 EuropeBohemian 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.   
Condition: Very good condition for its age.  The paperweight knob has a few scratches, but no cracks or chips.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is an antique paperweight doorknob from Bohemia or Belgium or Northern Europe.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
End view
Closeup
$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)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Belgian or Bohemian Doorknob with Miniature Concentric Millefiori Paperweight Handle
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.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is an authentic 1930s Chinese paperweight. 
Condition:  Very good condition with no cracks or chips.  Some very minor surface scratches.  There are striations in the glass.  As is typical of Chinese paperweights from this period, the glass has a slightly green tint and has some tiny bubbles and debris in it.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Other side
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Miniature 1930s Chinese Millefiori Brushholder Paperweight - Aladdin's Lamp Shape
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. 
Signature:  Signed on the back of a leaf with an early Whittemore signature cane.  The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background.  This signature cane was used until about 1970.   
Condition:  Very good condition.  I found two tiny faint circular impact marks on the side (see picture).  Each was less than 1/16" across.  No chips, cracks, or scratches were found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature Cane on back of leaf
Base with engraved "53"
Side view
Another view of base showing signature cane
Faint tiny impact marks - each < 1/16"
View through the base
$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)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Francis Whittemore Pink Cyclamen Flower with Leaves and Bud Paperweight
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.
Signature:   Unsigned but I guarantee that this is from China 1970 or earlier. 
Condition:  Good condition with no chips or cracks.  Some minor surface scratches.  The glass is poor quality and has striations and bubbles in it. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
Rose cane
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Unusual Chinese Mosaic Millefiori Paperweight with Rose Cane
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.

  • 1845-1860 - Classic period
  • 1920-1934 - Dupont period
  • 1953-2002 - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).   Baccarat continued to make paperweights after the classic period, but little is known about the extent of the product line or who made the paperweights.  What is known is that by 1910, the offering in the catalog had dwindled to pansy paperweights, simple open concentric paperweights, and rock paperweights.  Popular lore attributes 1920-1934 Baccarat paperweights to a Mr. Dupont, who supposedly was the last worker at Baccarat to know the secrets of paperweight making.  These paperweights were sold at a Baccarat retail shop in Paris. No collector or scholar ever met Mr. Dupont although at least one visited the Baccarat factory and asked to meet with him.  The weights stopped appearing in the shop in 1934.

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.
Signature:  This paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature / date cane "B 1975" in the design.  It also has an acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the engraved year (1975) and engraved edition number (46). 
Condition:   Very good condition.  There is a tiny circular fracture mark on the base next to the number "9" in "1975".  Perhaps this happened when the 1975 was engraved.  There are some other minor scratches on the base, but no other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature cane "B 1975"
Signature on base with etched Baccarat  logo, engraved edition number "46", and engraved "1975"- note circular fracture next to "9"
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Baccarat 1975 Gridel Series Pheasant Concentric Millefiori Limited Edition Paperweight
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".
Signature:   This example is unsigned, but I guarantee that it is a genuine Josh Simpson marble.
Condition:  The marble is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  A few of the bubbles are larger and have an amber cast.  It may be a second.  The acrylic stand is in very good condition with a few tiny scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Dimple stand
Closeup
Another closeup
Another view
And another view
Still another closeup
And one more closeup
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Josh Simpson Miniature Gravitron Planet Marble with Stand
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.  
Condition:  Poor condition.  The surface is free from defects but the paperweight is filled with many annealing cracks / fractures due to improper temperature control during the annealing process.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be an Ysart Brothers or early Vasart paperweight from Scotland made prior to the installation of new annealing oven in the mid 1950s. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side View
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Late Ysart Brothers or Early Vasart Paneled Millefiori Paperweight - Many Annealing Cracks
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.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee this is an antique object from an unidentified factory.
Condition:  Very good condition for its age although the shape has been modified.  No cracks or chips found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Side view
View of the cup
Closeup of paperweight section
Faceting on base
View with cup down
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Paperweight Style Mystery Object - Probably a Cut Down Candle Holder
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
Closeup
Profile
Signature Cane
Base
Side view (out of focus)
$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)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature Paperweight with White and Blue Millefiori Flowers on a Pink Ground
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:

Miniature Size:  Just over 1 5/16" diameter by just over 1 7/8" high.  The pedestal base has a diameter of just over 1 5/8".
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
Closeup
Side View
Another side view
Gold foil K signature on underside of ground
Another view of gold K through the base
Base
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted Pedestal Spider Lily Paperweight with Opaque Red Ground
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:

Miniature Size:  Just over 1 3/8" diameter by 1 15/16" high.  The pedestal base has a diameter of just over 1 5/8".
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
Closeup
Side View
Another side view
Gold foil K signature on underside of ground
Another view of gold K through the base
Base
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted Pedestal Spider Lily Paperweight with Aventurine Ground
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.
Signature :  Unsigned, but I believe this was made by Gentile Glass prior to 1975..
Condition :  Very good condition.  There are some faint scratches and scuff marks, but no significant damage.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Base
Side view
Closeup
SOLD.                         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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Vintage American "FROM A FRIEND" Frit Paperweight - Probably Made by Gentile Glass
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.

  •     1845-1860 - Classic period
  •     1900-1934 - Dupont period
  •     1953 - on - Modern period
This classification is definitely an over simplification as it is likely that Baccarat made some paperweights on and off through most of 19th century.  The best millefiori and lampwork paperweights were made during the classic period (1845-1860).  Pansy weights and rock weights continued in production until much later.  Some paperweights are identified as Dupont period and were made at the end of the 19th Century or early in the 20th century.

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.
Signature:  Made by Baccarat in France.  Signed on the base with an etched Baccarat logo.  It also has a Baccarat "B1988" signature / date cane in the outermost row.
Condition: Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Baccarat "B1988" signature / date cane
Baccarat logo on the base
Base
Side view
Profile view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat 1988 Four Row Open Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
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.
Signature:  This paperweight bottle has a Perthshire complex "P1975" signature / date cane in the base and a Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND".  It comes with its original satin lined fitted box.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  The box is in excellent condition. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup of concentric pattern
Closeup of stopper
Top of stopper
Signature cane and label
Base
Box
Box with bottle
Bottle with stopper
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1975E Limited Edition Green Overlay Millefiori Paperweight Bottle
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.
Condition:  Good condition.  Some crackling of the surface.  A few minor scratches.
Signature:  Signed KO on the base but the maker is unknown.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Base
Side view
Profile
Possible signature (KO)
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Colorful Surface Decorated Hollow Paperweight - Unknown Maker
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.
Condition:  Very good condition  with no chips or cracks.  Minor scratches on the base.  One tool mark on the side.
Signature:  The maker of this paperweight is unknown.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Base
Side view
Profile
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Miniature Art Glass Carpet Ground Millefiori Paperweight - Unknown Maker
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.

John retired from Cambridge Glass in 1946 and opened the Crystal Art Glass Company shortly after that. Most of the early production was devoted to paperweights. The factory also produced pressed glass novelties in an incredible range of colors. After John died in 1964, his wife Elizabeth took over production. Prior to that, the paperweights were unsigned. There was also a close association with Zack Boyd and his son Bernard, both of whom worked at Crystal Arts. Today in Cambridge, the Boyd family continues to run Crystal Arts.

Size:  2" diameter by 1 1/2" high.  The base has a glass stub.
Condition:  Good condition with no chips or cracks other than the broken stub.  It has many scratches indicating that it was actually used as a gearshift knob. 
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee that this is a genuine Degenhart paperweight.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Profile
Closeup
Side view
Base 

$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

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Small Degenhart Name Paperweight Knob - probably from a Gearshift
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection other than minor wear on the base. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a Strathearn paperweight from Scotland. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight
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
Closeup
Base
Profile
Side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Unsigned Miniature Lampwork Flower Paperweight, possibly by Ronald Hansen
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.  
Signature:  Signed with Robert Banford's signature "B" 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.
Condition:  Very good 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.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature cane
View from the base showing fancy cutting
Tool mark or nick (1/8")
Side view
Base
$950 postage paid in the US.                     US Sales only, no international shipping.  Delivery will require a signature.                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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Robert Banford Blue Double Clematis with Buds Double Overlay Faceted Paperweight with Fancy Base Cutting
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no scratches, chips or cracks found on inspection.
Signature:  Engraved "KARG" on the side near the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Top view
Profile
Signature
Base
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Colorful Magnum Rollin Karg Three Sided Paperweight
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No damage found on inspection.   
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee this is a Strathearn paperweight made in Scotland.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Strathearn Eight Pointed Star Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Orange Ground
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  The design, however, is off center in the paperweight.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE RICE" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature on base
Side View
Base
Another View
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Joe Rice Magnum Multicolored Ribbon Crimp Paperweight
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. 
Condition:   Excellent condition with no cracks,  chips, or scratches.  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.
Signature:  This paperweight is unsigned, but I guarantee that this paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Other side
Closeup
Back
Top view
Base
Another closeup
Rough area on tail feathers left by tools
SOLD.                                         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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Colorful Murano Figural Bird Paperweight - Made From Twist Canes
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. 
Signature:  This paperweight has a Perthshire complex "P" signature cane in the center of the flower.  It does not have a paper label.
Condition:  Very good condition although it has a 1/4" scratch on the overlay between two side facets below the widest point.  No other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Scratch on side
Base with grid cut finish
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Perthshire Annual Collection 1979C Limited Edition Miniature Overlay Paperweight
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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed and dated but I do not recognize the name.  There is also a pontil stamp with a long tailed lizard or gecko or something similar.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Base with signature
Top view
Profile
Another view
Another view of signature and pontil stamp
And a third view of signature and pontil stamp
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Blue Iridescent Abstract Paperweight with Gecko Pontil Stamp by Unknown Maker
4032 Colorful Guernsey Island Studio Paperweight with Silverplate Base by Sileda Ltd.  dated 1986This 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.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips or cracks or noticeable scratches.  The silver plate has been lost some of its silver layer and the underlying copper is visible.   
Signature:  Signed with Sileda Ltd.'s silver mark on the base.  The mark is on a raised area which is 3/16" across.  The mark consists of the Sileda "SL" registered mark as registered at the Sheffield Assay Office and below that the three tiny punches: Sheffield Tudor Rose (for the Assay office in Sheffield), Britannia quality mark (which is meaningless for silver plate), and a script M, establishes the date as 1986.  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.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Top view
Base
Closeup of base to show raised area with marks
Composite of three attempts to show the Sileda mark
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Colorful Guernsey Island Studio Paperweight with Silverplate Base by Sileda Ltd
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.  There are some small bubbles in the glass.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a Strathearn paperweight from Scotland. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Medium Colorful Strathearn Close Packed Millefiori Paperweight
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped on the base "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR 1976". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Other side
Signature on base
Closeup
Profile
Side away from handle
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Maude and Bob 1976 Blue Icepick Flower Candle Holder Paperweight
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.
Signature: Signed on the base "Sherwin Art Glass 2017". 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips or scratches. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Other side
Base with signature
Another view
Front
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Chris Sherwin Art Glass Black-Capped Chickadee Paperweight
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 GlassStrathearn 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. 
Condition:  Very good condition.  I found two small scratches on the side, plus some scratches from wear on the base.  No chips or cracks.
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is an early Scottish pin dish made by Vasart or possibly later by Strathearn. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Base
Side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Large Vasart or Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight Pin Dish
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. 
Condition:  Excellent Condition with no chips or cracks.  No scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE ST. CLAIR" on the bottom.  This probably dates from the 1960s or 1970s, but may be earlier.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup of icepick flowers
Signature on base
Another view
End view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Joe St. Clair Icepick Flower Teapot Ring Holder Paperweight
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.
Signature:  Scratch signed "CHINA" on the base.  
Condition:  Good condition.  It has many surface scratches and scuffs.  No cracks or chips.  Striations in the glass.  The quality of the glass is poor with some debris - as is typical of early Chinese paperweights. The glass has a greenish tinge and it has a soft oily feel.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum 1930s Chinese Scrambled Millefiori Paperweight
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. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No damage found on inspection.   
Signature:  This paperweight has a worn Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Closeup
Profile
Base with label
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Miniature Strathearn Eight Pointed Star Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Lime Green Ground
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. 
Signature:  It is signed in script on the base "SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND 1996".  It also has a worn paper label "SELKIRK GLASS HANDMADE IN SCOTLAND".
Condition:  Excellent condition with some wear on the base and one faint scuff or scratch (less than 1/8" long) on the side.  No other scratches, cracks or chips found on inspection. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Side view
Top view
Label
Profile
Base with Signature and Label
Base
Scuff (less than 1/8") on side
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Selkirk 1996 Stylized Blue Flower Paperweight
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.
Signature:  Signed in the design with a Whittemore "W" complex signature cane.  The one used in this paperweight has a white W on a blue background surrounded by a ring of white stars.  It helps to date the paperweight to after 1971 when he started working with Baccarat. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature Cane
Base
Side view
Another view
$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)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Francis Whittemore Miniature Yellow Pears with Leaves and Seed Pod Paperweight
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.
Condition:  Good to Very Good condition.  There is considerable wear and scratches on the base.  There is also one 3/4" long scratch on the side next to the base - shown in the picture of the base.  No other damage or scratches were found on the dome. 
Signature:  It is signed with an Edinburgh "E" signature cane in the center of the design.  The signature cane has a flaw on one side - bubbles in the glass.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Scratch (3/4") on side next to base
Signature cane
Profile
Closeup
Side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Edinburgh Crystal Caithness 1986 Double Trefoil "Ring of Roses"Millefiori Paperweight
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.
Signature:  The paperweight is signed with Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1976" in the design.  It also has one acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the year (1976) and edition number (186). 
Condition:   Excellent condition.  There is some minor wear on the base, but no other cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Baccarat logo, date, and edition number on base
Signature cane "B 1976"
Side view
Base
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Baccarat 1976 Gridel Series Magnum Millefiori White Monkey Limited Edition Paperweight
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.
Condition:  Very good condition.  There are some scuff marks on the widest part of the paperweight.  No other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Engraved "HJH" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Signature on base
View of back
Side view
Another view
Profile
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Harold J. Hacker Snake Paperweight
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. 
Signature: It is signed in script on the base "Mark Matthews 1981".
Condition:  Good condition.  There are many surface flaws and this appears to be an experimental piece or prototype.  No cracks or chips.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature on base
Closeup
Top view
Side view
Another view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Early Mark Matthews 1981 Experimental Spiral Paperweight
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. 
Signature:  Signed "Trabucco 1983" on the side near the base. There is also a "VT" signature cane on the underside of a leaf. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no scratches, chips or cracks found on inspection.  One tiny imperfection found on the side that appears to be a speck of dirt in the glass. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Signature on side near base
Signature cane on underside of leaf - signature is also visible
Another side view
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Victor Trabucco Pink Clematis Paperweight with Buds on Trellis
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.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks or scratches found on inspection.  There are some small bubbles in the glass.
Signature:  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.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:  

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature cane
Label
Side view - shows small bubble
Base
Side with label
$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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Whitefriars Early Faceted Six Ring Concentric Millefiori Paperweight
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. 
Condition:  Very good condition.  No cracks, chips or scratches found on inspection.  The profile is slightly flat and not completely smooth, resulting in a tiny bit of distortion.
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee this to be an authentic antique Clichy paperweight.   

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Profile view
Another closeup
Side view
Base
Still another closeup
And another
$995 postage paid in the US.                US Sales only, no international shipping.  Delivery will require a signature.                        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.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with 25 canes including a Green and Pink Rose
5428 Rare 1974 Strathearn Faceted Upright Red Flower Paperweight with Original Box.  dated 1974.  This is a rare Strathearn faceted five petal upright red flower with three leaves and a stem.  There is a translucent red ground.  It is designated PSF62 in the catalog on Scotland's Glass and is part of the second series of upright flower.  It has a polished flat base.  The paperweight is faceted with a small top facet and eight side facets (four large and four smaller below).  There is a paper label "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" and Strathearn's "S 74" signature cane on the base.  It comes with its original satin lined blue Strathearn Glass box.  A great 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.

Large Size:  2 5/16” diameter by 3 1/2” high.  It has a polished flat base.  The paperweight is faceted with a small top facet and eight side facets (four large and four smaller below).  The box is 6 1/2" long by 4" wide by 3" high.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  The box is also in very good shape with only a bit of tarnish on the brass fittings.
Signature:  This paperweight has a paper label "STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" and Strathearn's "S 74" signature cane on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Paperweight with box
Signature cane and label
Base
Profile
Box
Another view
$175 postage paid in the US.                                                                           Added 11/30/2020

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare 1974 Strathearn Faceted Upright Red Flower Paperweight with Original Box
5294 Medium Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight.  circa 1963-1968.  This attractive paperweight consists of a paneled millefiori pattern with eleven sections of 1orange +1 green +2 tiny blue millefiori patterns each separated by a white latticinio twist cane.  The blue canes are visible only from the side.  There is a central ring of eight millefiori canes and then a center millefiori cane.  The canes are early Scottish millefiori canes on a transparent brown ground.   This is a great example.   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:   2 9/16” diameter by 1 3/4” high.  Bottom is fire polished. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No cracks, chips, or scratches found on inspection other than mild wear on the base. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a Strathearn paperweight from Scotland. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
SOLD.                                                 Added 11/21/2020    

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Medium Colorful Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight
4742 Antique Millville Style Magnum Rock of Ages Four Color Frit Paperweight.  circa 1900-1920.  This frit paperweight features a rare four color Rock of Ages motif with a turquoise cross on a rock in the middle of the water.  There is a brown or dark red vine growing on the cross.  The text "ROCK OF AGES" appears in blue and red above the cross.  The design is set in colored frit on an opaque white enamel ground.  The white ground color wraps around to the base and covers the base except for a clear circle in the center of the base where the pontil rod would have been.  This paperweight was probably made at the Whitall Tatum factory in Millville, New Jersey in the first quarter of the 19th century.  Some collectors believe that the clear circle on the base points to the Corning, NY area rather than Millville as the place of manufacture.  A great addition to any collection of antique American paperweights. 

Note: This is a very nice clean example but I did find a very faint small (1/8”) partial circular impact mark on careful inspection.  Please review the pictures.

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 the ground color.  When encased, there is sometimes a ridge or crease line between the solid (in this case white) base area and the clear encasement.  Some collectors refer to this as two piece construction.  This type of construction has been associated with Whitall Tatum and other factories in the Millville area.  There is no crease on this paperweight, but the encasement stops where the white ground color starts. 

Whitall Tatum was one of the first glass factories in America.  Located in Millville, New Jersey, it was in operation from 1806 through 1938.  The factory in Millville was purchased by a series of companies and eventually shut down in 1999.  It is believed that Whitall Tatum workers were allowed to make paperweights from as early as 1860 until the practice was discouraged sometime after 1912. 

Some collectors believe that the clear circle on the base points to the Corning, NY area rather than Millville as the place of manufacture.  There is no documentary proof to support this, but a number of weights of this type (with the clear circle on the base) have been found in the Corning area. 

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 American folk art and gives a history of paperweight making at Whitall Tatum and other South Jersey factories. 

Very large size:  3 11/16” diameter by 2 9/16” high.  The base is ground flat.  This paperweight weighs 34 ounces.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  This is a very nice clean example but I did find a very faint small (1/8”) partial circular impact mark on careful inspection.  Please review the pictures.  There is appropriate wear on the base. 
Signature:  Unsigned but I believe this paperweight was made at either Whitall Tatum in the Millville area of Southern New Jersey or in the Corning NY area.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
Faint 1/8" impact mark
$195 postage paid in the US.                                       Added 11/11/2020

For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Millville Style Magnum Rock of Ages Four Color Frit Paperweight
5283 Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Rose.  circa 1845-1860.  This antique Clichy spaced concentric millefiori paperweight has a two concentric rings of complex millefiori around a central red pastry mold cane.  There is a wonderful large green and pink Clichy rose in the inner ring.  There are 19 canes in all, all placed on an upset muslin or lace ground.  The canes are intricate and very colorful.  See the close-up picture for more detail.  A especially nice antique Clichy paperweight. 

Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors.  Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable.  The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837.  Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name.  They stayed in operation until about the 1870s.  

Small Size:  2 1/4" diameter by just over 1 5/8" high.  The base is ground slightly concave. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  There is wear on the base but no other chips, cracks, or scratches were found on inspection.  This paperweight has probably been restored in the past.
Signature:  Unsigned but I guarantee this to be an authentic antique Clichy paperweight. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Side view
Base
Another closeup
$1,125 postage paid in the US.                       US Sales only, no international shipping.  Delivery will require a signature.                        Added 10/25/2020 

For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. 

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Rose
5292 Large Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Transparent Green Ground.  circa 1963-1968.  This very attractive paperweight consists of a paneled millefiori pattern with ten sections each with one small and one large millefiori cane and separated by a white latticinio twist cane.  There is a central ring of eight millefiori canes and then a center millefiori cane.  There are a two stray small bubbles over the center cane.  The canes are early Scottish millefiori canes on a transparent green ground.   This is a very nice example.  A great 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.

Large Size:   Just under 3 1/8” diameter by 2 1/16” high.  The base is fire polished. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  Some wear on the base, but no other chips, cracks, or scratches. 
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this to be a Strathearn paperweight from Scotland. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Base
Side view
$120 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 10/14/2020

For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Strathearn Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Transparent Green Ground
3070 Special Peter McDougall Medium Ribbed Millefiori Paperweight Made For 2011 PCA Convention.  This ribbed millefiori paperweight has a paneled millefiori pattern with set in red, white, and blue.  It was made as a table favor for the 2011 Paperweight Collectors Association convention in Washington, DC.  There are seven panels, each with a 1-2 pattern of red, white and blue millefiori separated by red, white and blue twists.  There is a special convention complex cane in the center "WDC 2011".  The ground is a opaque black.  It is scratch signed PCA on the back and also has a paper label "PMcD Glass Studio LTD, Hand Made in Crieff Scotland." 

This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape.  The top is flattened. 

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.

Medium Size:  Just over 2 1/2" diameter by 1 1/4" high.  The base is ground concave.
Condition:  Outstanding condition with no scratches, chips or cracks. 
Signature:  Signed with a special "WDC 2011" complex cane in the design and it also has a paper label "PMcD Glass Studio LTD, Hand Made in Crieff Scotland." 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Profile View
Peter McDougall label and PCA designation
Base
$195 postage paid in the US.                          Added 10/13/2020 

For more information about paperweights made by Peter McDougall, see my Peter McDougall Web Page .

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Special Peter McDougall Medium Ribbed Millefiori Paperweight Made For 2011 PCA Convention
3668 Antique Bohemian Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Complex Canes.   circa 1850-1900.  This is an antique Bohemian millefiori paperweight with some interesting complex millefiori canes.  The paperweight has three concentric circles of canes around a complex center star cane.  The design consists almost entirely of complex canes, with the exception of the red and white canes in the second ring.  In all a complex design built from a variety of canes with many star canes.  The design is well executed and it is in perfect condition.  The glass is slightly grey.  This paperweight has been professionally restored.       

Bohemian Glass generally refers to the glass made in the regions that form the border area between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.  Most of these areas are now parts of the western Czech Republic.   

Size:  Just over 2 1/4" diameter by 1 5/16" high.  The base is ground concave.
Condition:  Excellent condition.  This paperweight has been professionally restored.       
Signature:  Unsigned, but I guarantee this is an antique paperweight from Bohemia.  The specific factory has not been identified.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Side view
Closeup
Base 
$295 postage paid in the US.                            Added 10/10/2020

For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page.              (dl-ant-boh)

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Antique Bohemian Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Complex Canes
3069 Special Peter McDougall Small Daisy Millefiori Paperweight Made For 2011 PCA Convention.  This daisy shaped paperweight has a paneled millefiori pattern with set in red, white, and blue.  It was made as a table favor for the 2011 Paperweight Collectors Association convention in Washington, DC.  There are six panels, each with a 1-2 pattern of red, white and blue millefiori separated by red, white and blue twists.  There is a special convention complex cane in the center "WDC 2011".  The ground is a opaque black.  It is scratch signed PCA on the back and also has a paper label "PMcD Glass Studio LTD, Hand Made in Crieff Scotland." 

This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape.  The top is flattened. 

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.

Small Size:  Just over 2 1/8" diameter by 1 3/16" high. 
Condition:  Outstanding condition with no scratches, chips or cracks. 
Signature:  Signed with a special "WDC 2011" complex cane in the design and it also has a paper label "PMcD Glass Studio LTD, Hand Made in Crieff Scotland." 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Side view
Profile View
Base with Peter McDougall label and PCA designation
Another side view
$145 postage paid in the US.                          Added 8/29/2020 

For more information about paperweights made by Peter McDougall, see my Peter McDougall Web Page .

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Special Peter McDougall Small Daisy Millefiori Paperweight Made For 2011 PCA Convention
4016 Large Mdina Glass Swirl Paperweight.  circa 1968-1985.  Wonderful paperweight with a dark interior of red, green, blue, yellow, and other colors.  There are additional swirls that surround the core and extend out to the surface.  The glass encasement is a dark grey or green.  Made on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.  It is signed "Mdina"in script on the base.  

Mdina Glass was founded on the Island of Malta in 1968 by Michael Harris (1933-1994) and Eric Dobson with financial incentives and the encouragement of the Maltese government.  Initially it was called the Maltese Glass Industries, but the name was changed to Mdina Glass shortly later.  Michael Harris received his training in glass at several institutions graduating from the Royal College of Art in London in 1959.  He later became an RCA tutor setting up hot glass facilities there in 1967.  He was a pioneer of the studio glass movement in the UK.  Eric Dobson was also at the Royal College of Art.  Mdina Glass was a successful venture and gave rise to a significant glass craft industry on the Island of Malta.  Michael Harris left Malta in 1972 to establish Wight Glass in the UK.  In 1971, two Italian maestros, the father and son team of Vincente and Ettore Boffo joined Mdina Glass to introduce Italian glassmaking techniques.  Eric Dobson continued until about 1985 working with the local glass artists that he and Michael had trained. Eventually Mdina Glass was taken over by Joseph Said, a Maltese glassworker who had trained at Mdina.

For context, during this period Malta gained independence from Britain in 1964 after 150 years as a British colony.  In 1974 it became the Republic of Malta, and in 2004 joined the European Union.

Large Size:  3" diameter and just under 4 1/4" high.  The bottom is fire finished with a left hand flame pontil mark. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with only minor wear to the base.  Because of the dark colors it was hard to inspect, but I found no damage.
Signature:  Signed with in script on the base "Mdina". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Closeup
Another view
Base with Mdina signature

$85 postage paid in the US.                                                 Added 8/14/2020. 

For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Mdina Glass Swirl Paperweight
4015 Vintage Magnum Wheaton Village Blue Flower in Flowerpot Paperweight.  circa 1970s-1980s.  The paperweight features a five petal robins egg blue flower with a long stem and yellow and brown pleated flowerpot.  The design is rendered in frit (ground glass) over a clear crystal ground.  At the bottom, there is a pleated yellow and brown flowerpot.  There is a tiny bubble at the tip of each petal and a larger controlled bubble between each petal.  The paperweight is signed on the base with a pontil stamp "WHEATON VILLAGE" indicating it was made in normal production at The Glass Studio at Wheaton Village.  A pleasing design that is well executed.  Great color. 

This design is sometimes called an icepick flower design because an icepick type tool is pushed down through the colored layer to create the stem for the flower.  The design is made by placing the colored frit (ground glass) in a metal template, then picking it up with a gather of clear glass.  An icepick like tool is then used to create a stem and the bubbles in the design.  

Wheaton Village (now called the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center or WheatonArts) was founded in 1968 in Millville, NJ.  It is non-profit arts education organization with a focus on the medium of glass.  The center's mission is to engage artists and audiences in an evolving exploration of creativity.  Many paperweight collectors and artists have visited Wheaton Village to participate in the biennial Paperweight Fest.  The village hosts a variety of crafts studios including a The Glass Studio.  It also houses the Museum of American Glass - a comprehensive collection of glass produced in America.  Over the years a number of volunteers and paid glass workers have produced paperweights at Wheaton Village.  Some of the names are Henry Davis, Kenyon Brown, Anthony “Tony” DePalma, and others.  When the work was production work for The Glass Studio, it usually had a superimposed WV or WHEATON VILLAGE pontil stamp.  Work that represented the artist's own effort would have additional initials to identify the artist.  

Magnum Size: 3 5/8" diameter by 3 1/2" high. The base is fire finished with a pontil signature stamp.  The paperweight weighs 37 ounces (2 pounds 5 ounces).
Condition:  Excellent condition with no scratches, chips, or cracks found on inspection. 
Signature:  Signed on the base with a "WHEATON VILLAGE" pontil stamp.  

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view
Side view
Pontil mark with "WHEATON VILLAGE" - hard to read
Closeup
Base
$95 postage paid in the US.                            Added 8/10/2018

For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Vintage Magnum Wheaton Village Blue Flower in Flowerpot Paperweight
4009 Joe St. Clair Multicolored Ribbon Crimp Paperweight - Signed.  circa 1941-2000.  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.  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. 

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.

Large Size:  Just over 2 3/4" diameter by 2" high.  The botto