New Additions - Paperweights
for Sale
New Additions - Paperweights
for Sale
| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 5593 | Large Perthshire PP30 Limited Edition
Millefiori Paperweight with Star Pattern. dated 1978.
A 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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.. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $45 postage paid in the US.
Added 3/19/2023 For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/18/2023 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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$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) |
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| 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:
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$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 1603 | Antique Franchini Type Aventurine Venetian
Murine Paperweight Scent Bottle. circa 1840-1880.
This rare Franchini type miniature Venetian scent bottle has two
early murrine canes. On the front is a murrine of a
gondola. The murrine on the back depicts a winged lion on
water, or the Lion of St. Mark. This murrine has a small
fracture in the cane. The six-sided shape is similar to known
scent bottles made by Giacomo Franchini. The glass is filled
with aventurine and colored swirls. It is in very good
condition aside from the fractured murrine and has normal age
appropriate wear. There are also small fractures on the
neck. It does not have its original stopper and hinged
cap. Most likely it also originally had a chain. Despite
the similarity to known Franchini items, I am selling this as
"Franchini Type" as other glass artisans of the period probably
copied the work of the Franchini workshop. For comparable images, see the following pages in Miniature Masterpieces - Mosaic Glass 1838-1924 by Giovanni Sarpellon. A similar six-sided scent bottle appears in figure 520 on page 57. Similar gondola murrine appear in figures 425-439 on page 47. The lion of St. Mark appears in figure 422 on page 46. Note on condition: The scent bottle has several flaws. The cane of the Lion of St. Mark has a small fracture. There are also small fractures on the neck. The scent bottle does not have its original stopper, hinged cap, or chain. It also has age appropriate wear. Giacomo (Jacopo) Franchini (1827-1897) worked with his father Giovanni Battista Franchini (1804-1873) on the development of millefiori canes incorporating figurative designs as well as floral patterns. His is best known for his miniature portraits of the famous people of his time. He produced some of the most remarkable glass portraits and many were incorporated into scent bottles, walking stick handles and other objects, some useful and some purely decorative. His creative period ended in 1863 when he was confined to an asylum. For more details on the remarkable work produced by the Franchini family and others of the period, see the book Miniature Masterpieces - Mosaic Glass 1838-1924 by Giovanni Sarpellon. Miniature size: Just over
2 3/8" tall by just under 15/16" wide by 11/16" thick..
It weighs two ounces. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. Large size: Just over 2 3/4" diameter by 2
5/16" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/5/2023 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 1297 | Antique Green and White Jasper Ground
Paperweight. circa 1845-1890. This is
an unusual antique jasper ground paperweight - unusual in that there
is no other motif present. Normally we find a jasper ground
paperweight with a flower or a millefiori pattern. It could be
a practice piece made by a glass worker learning how to create a
jasper ground, or it could be that the flower or design wasn't ready
when it needed to be picked up. I don't know which factory
made it. Among antique American paperweight makers, both the
New England Glass Company and the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company
made floral paperweights with jasper grounds. In France, St.
Louis made jasper ground paperweights during the classic period
(1845 - 1860). Other factories probably did as well. So
the origin remains a mystery, but I think it is likely to have been
made at the New England Glass Company (NEGC). A colorful
example that you will keep on your desk and use as - a paperweight. Large Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The base
is ground concave with a pontil scar remaining. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. 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. |
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| 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: 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$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 2/1/2023 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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: 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$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. |
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| 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, Italy. ALT
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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/15/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5225 | Dramatic Daum Egg Shaped Violet Floral
Paperweight from France. 1970s or later. This
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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 11/4/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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.
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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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:
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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 5978 | Perthshire PP32 Q Limited Edition Faceted
Concentric Paperweight with Complex Canes. dated
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). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 10/19/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 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. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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". 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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.
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$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 8/23/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5378 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Seal with Millefiori Nosegay Handle. circa 1860-1888.
Interesting NEGC seal with millefiori nosegay handle.
The nosegay has three marvelous complex millefiori. The base
has a grid cut and is not customized for the owner. Fair to
good condition, with many small chips on the edges and
corners. The handle has a six sided top facet plus two rows of
six facets each. The stem and base are six sided. Rare
item. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. Size: The six-sided handle is 1 5/16" wide at its
widest. 2 5/8" long. The base is 7/8" width at its
widest. Heavily faceted. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$1,100 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. Delivery will require a signature. 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. |
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| 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). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureNew 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 1770 | Antique German Paperweight
with Picture of Student in Fraternity Uniform. circa
1870-1915. This is an antique paperweight with a photograph or
painting of a young man in a military type uniform. The image
is on a white enamel plaque and is either a painting or a hand
colored photograph. The enamel plaque is placed in the center
of a spatter or frit ground. An interesting and rare type of
paperweight. The paperweight was most likely made in Germany or
Silesia. A great addition to any collection of antique
European paperweights.
Note: There is a fracture surrounding the image that is caused by incompatibilities between the plaque and the surrounding glass. This type of fracture is, unfortunately, fairly common in plaque weights of that period. After considerable research, I have concluded that the uniform is probably one used by a German or Austrian university student fraternity or student association. Members of these student associations surrounded themselves with the symbols of their fraternities. The uniforms are quite commonly depicted on German steins and other "studentica" of the period. For more information, see http://stein-collectors.org/library/articles/Student/studentica.html Size: 2 1/2 diameter by 1 3/4 high. The
bottom is fire finished with remnants of the pontil mark. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureNew 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 4542 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Mixed Fruit Paperweight. circa 1869. This is an
antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) mixed fruit paperweight,
consisting of five apples (or pears), four radishes (or cherries),
four large leaves and four smaller leaves over a nearly perfect
double swirl latticinio ground. The fruit have bright vivid
colors and the leaves show good definition. The cruciform
design is beautifully composed. Unfortunately there are of
striations (sugaring) in the glass that are exaggerated in the
pictures. The paperweight is in great condition and appears to
have been restored in the past. It displays beautifully.
Many authors call the fruit pears and cherries. I feel that they look more like apples and radishes. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC. Size: 2 9/16" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 4587 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1981F Limited
Edition Magnum Crown and Basket Paperweight. dated
1981. This is an absolutely fantastic crown paperweight.
It features a six petal amber flower with a complex millefiori
center and six green leaves (sepals) on top. The flower
is set on a wonderful spiral latticinio cushion. The crown
staves are made of alternating blue-green and white twist canes,
thirty in all. There is a further encasement in glass that
gives this the impression of a paperweight within a
paperweight. It is signed on the base with a "P 1981"
Perthshire signature / date cane. It also has a slightly worn
paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the
base. This paperweight is one of a limited edition of 200
weights, of which 193 were made. The paperweight has large
facet on top, which allows a full view of the inner sphere. A
beautiful paperweight with perfect execution.
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1981. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1981, designated A through H. This design is designated 1981F. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955. The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). This inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Very large size: Just under 3 1/4" diameter by 2
5/16" high. It has one large facet on the top. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 7/9/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 5558 | Large Antique Baccarat Dupont Period Type
III Pansy Paperweight with Star Cut Base. circa
1900-1920. Baccarat Pansy paperweight with leaves and
stem. The base is finished with a Baccarat star cut.
This paperweight is from Baccarat's Dupont period. This style
of pansy is called a type III pansy. It consists of two large
velvet purple petals above over three lower petals. The lower
petals are amber yellow over a white base. Each lower petal
has a purple tip and three dark lines radiating from the central
cane consisting of star canes with a red whorl center. A large
paperweight in great shape. Note: This paperweight has been restored in the past and has a relatively flat profile. There is plenty of glass and it could be reshaped to give it a proper profile. Note about provenance: The previous owner acquired this paperweight at the Selman Auction 37 (Fall 2006) Lot 41 and paid $460 including the bidders premium for the paperweight. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2" high. The
bottom is polished flat and finished with a Baccarat star cut
base. It has a relatively flat profile as shown in the
pictures. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $295 postage paid in the US. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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.
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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 5561 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Millefiori Scramble Paperweight with Rabbits. circa
1860. This is an antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
scramble or end of day paperweight. It is filled with a
wonderful assortment of colorful millefiori canes, twists, and other
glass bits. There are at least two different running rabbit
canes, one visible from the top and the other visible from the
bottom. Excellent condition. I believe this paperweight
has been restored. You will enjoy studying the variety of
millefiori canes in it visible from both the top and the base. This paperweight has a sticker on the base from the Selman Auction 44 (Fall 2009) Lot 96. The previous owner paid $575 ($500 plus a 15% bidders premium) for this paperweight. The catalog says there are two rabbit canes visible from the underside, but I could only find one. Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory. The New England Glass Company (NEGC)
operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888.
You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass
Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of
the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New
England Glass Companies covers both B&S and
NEGC. Size: Just under 2 7/8 diameter by 1 3/4
high. The base is ground concave. The profile is
relatively flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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 Dreiers
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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 5512 | Baccarat 1975 Gridel Series Millefiori
Black Monkey Limited Edition Paperweight. dated
1975. This modern millefiori paperweight features a large
central black monkey silhouette on a white background surrounded by
two concentric rings of picture canes (seventeen Gridel canes plus a
signature / date cane). The design is placed over a green
carpet ground. The paperweight is signed in the design with
Baccarat's complex signature cane "B 1975". It also has an
acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the year (1975) and
edition number (262). This is the most popular of the Gridel
series paperweight. This design was released in 1975 in a limited edition of 350 pieces. This is number 262 in that series. There is a signature cane "B 1975" shown in the pictures. The bottom has the acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1975) and the number (262). In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other figures included in the design. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
In 1952, Paul Jokelson approached Baccarat with the idea of making sulphide paperweights again. In 1953 Baccarat resumed paperweight production with a series of sulphide paperweights the first of which were the unsuccessful Eisenhower sulphide followed by the Queen Elizabeth coronation sulphide. Millefiori paperweight production was resumed in 1957 and lampwork paperweights were re-introduced in the early 1970s. Baccarat stopped making this type of fine glass paperweights in 2002. You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights in the new book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. Large Size: 3 1/8" diameter by just under 2 1/4"
high. The base is polished flat with an
indent for the edition number. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$695 postage paid in the US. Added 5/15/2022 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5911 | Perthshire PP2 Medium Paneled Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 1978 - 2002. This is a
medium patterned millefiori paperweight with a center "P" signature
cane surrounded by two rings of colorful millefiori and then 12
short radial twists. Each panel has a 1-1-2-2 pattern of
millefiori. The ground is an opaque very dark purple (almost
black). This version of the PP2 has a signature cane and the
base is hollow ground, dating it to 1978 or later. It also has
a worn Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF
SCOTLAND" on the base. An extra nice example with crisp setup
and bright colors. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Medium Size: 2 1/2" diameter by 1 7/8" high. The
base is hollow ground (ground concave). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 5/14/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5374 | Large Pairpoint Faceted Red Rose
Paperweight. circa 1970-1980. This paperweight
features a large red crimp rose made at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore,
Massachusetts. The
rose has 13 petals with a 4+4+3+2 pattern. There are also
eight variegated green leaves, four large and four skinny.
The design is placed over a semi-transparent dark blue ground.
It is faceted with one large top facet plus five smaller side
facets. The glass has a green tinge. The paperweight is
unsigned. It
is possible that this rose paperweight was made by Robbie Mason or
one of the other glass artists who apprenticed with him. A
wonderful example of a modern Pairpoint rose paperweight. Note on condition: This paperweight has a faint 3/16" circular impact mark and a faint 3/16" vertical scratch on the side near the top facet. There is some wear on the base. I found no other damage. There are also small bubbles and a couple of white flecks in the glass from when it was made. I believe it dates from the early period in Sagamore when they sometimes had white "stones" in the glass thrown off by the furnace pots. Pairpoint Glass has a
long history extending back to its earliest origins with Mount
Washington Glass in 1837. Owners and locations changed a
number of times and the name Pairpoint was first used in the
1890s. The original Pairpoint companies were located in
New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1938, it was reorganized as
Gunderson Glass Works by owner Robert Gunderson and later
renamed the Gunderson - Pairpoint Glass Works in 1952. The
name was acquired by Robert Bryden and the company moved briefly
to East Wareham, MA in 1957 where it operated as the Pairpoint
Glass Company. They leased production facilities in
Spain. The old New Bedford factory burned down in
1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved
Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1969. Attempts
were made to resume glassmaking in New Bedford for five years
(1977-1982), but this was not successful. Bryden retired
in September 1988. Since then, the Pairpoint Glass Company
has changed owners again. It continues to operate at that
location today
(2022) although under new owners. Robert (Robbie) C. Mason (1935-2020) started his glass career in 1950 as an apprentice with Edinburgh Crystal, Scotland (part of the Thomas Webb and Sons). With exception of three years in the Army (1960-1963), he continued to gain seniority and expertise as a glass maker. In 1968, Thomas Bryden advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News for experienced glass workers emphasizing the need for hand made experience. Robbie Mason decided to take a chance on a new employer and joined Pairpoint in 1969. With his experience, he became a gaffer by 1971. He stayed at Pairpoint as a master glassblower until he retired in 2005. A number of well known glass artists apprenticed with him. He retired in 2005 and passed away from complications of COVID-19 in April 2020. Large Size: 2 13/16" diameter by 2 1/4" high.
The bottom is ground concave in the center. It is faceted with one
top facet and five side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 5/12/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5385 | Large Antique New England Glass Company
(NEGC) Salmon Red Double Poinsettia Paperweight on a Blue and
White Jasper Ground. circa 1860 - 1888. This is an
antique New England Glass Company (NEGC) double poinsettia with a
two rings of five salmon red petals arranged around an interesting
complex millefiori center. Well place bubbles give the
appearance of dew drops. There are also three well formed NEGC
green leaves and a green stem. The design is placed over
wonderful blue and white jasper ground giving this paperweight a
patriotic red, white, and blue theme. Unlike many NEGC
poinsettias, the flower is fairly well centered. This
paperweight will be a worthwhile addition to any collection of
antique American paperweights. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC.
Large Size: 2 11/16" diameter by1 5/8" high.
The base is ground concave. It has a relatively flat
profile. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$495 postage paid in the US. Added 5/10/2022 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5362 | Robert Banford Blue Clematis with
Buds and Dragonfly Paperweight. circa 1980. This
compound paperweight features a wonderful large dragonfly hovering
above a striped blue clematis. The clematis has a yellow
center and two buds in various states of opening. There are
many green leaves and a stem. The design is set in clear
crystal with an opaque white ground at the base of the
paperweight. The paperweight is compound with the two levels
above the ground layer. The flower floats in the middle layer
and the dragonfly hovers above the flower. The paperweight is
signed with Bob Banford's B signature cane at the tip of the
stem. A very desirable addition to any collection of
contemporary American paperweights. Note: The bright light used to take the pictures exaggerate the refractive lines where the layers of glass are joined. This is normal in compound paperweights that use high quality glass. Note 2: There is a 3/16" flaw near the base of this of the paperweight. I'm not sure what caused this. It is not a chip or crack. Robert Banford worked in Hammonton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his father, Ray Banford. Bob continued to make paperweights until 2006. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights, but it is sometimes possible to get an idea of when a paperweight was made by the progression of styles and the type of glass used. Bob Banford used a signature cane with a red "B" and a blue surround. Ray Banford used a different signature cane with a black B. Ray passed away in 2003.
Large size: 2 3/4" diameter by just over 2 5/16"
high. The white base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$345 postage paid in the US. Added 5/9/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5615 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1982B Limited
Edition Flamingo Paperweight with Certificate.
dated 1982. This paperweight features a pink flamingo standing
on one leg in a blue pond with two water lilies and two cat
tails. There is a translucent blue and green ground. The
paperweight has a single top facet. It is signed with a
complex "P 1982" signature cane in the center of the base. It
also has its original worn Perthshire
paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base
and comes with its original (somewhat wrinkled) certificate
stating that this is edition number 26 in a limited edition of 300
paperweights (of which only 184 were made). An
unusual design from Perthshire..
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1982. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1982, designated A through H. This design is designated 1982B. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Just under 2 5/8" diameter by 1 11/16"
high. The base is ground concave. Faceted with one
large top facet. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 5/8/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5949 | Large Ed Rithner
Multi-Colored Candy Cane Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1940-1970. A wonderful example of a relatively rare style of
paperweight. The millefiori canes are striped lengthwise and
are placed over a transparent turquoise ground. The
canes are various colors of red, blue, green, and white. A classic
Rithner design. Ed Rithner worked in Wellsburg, West Virginia from 1908 to the 1970s or later. You can read about Ed Rithner in Jean Melvin's book on American Glass Paperweights and their Makers . All of Rithner's weights are unsigned. Large Size: Just under 3 1/16" diameter by 1 7/8"
high. The base is fire finished and then ground to a matte
finish in the center to remove the pontil mark. The profile is
relatively flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$110 postage paid in the US. Added 5/8/2022 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5639 | Large Fratelli Toso Murano Block
Shaped Millefiori Paperweight with Handle. circa
1960-1979. Colorful Fratelli Toso millefiori paperweight with
a knob or handle on top. The green inner core has a variety of
cogged millefiori canes on the surface of the green layer. A
controlled pattern of bubbles surrounds the inner core. This
paperweight has a worn Fratelli Toso silver foil label with a
conjoined "ft" and "MADE IN ITALY MURANO GLASS". The center of
the green core is hollow and the paperweight has an irregular 5/8"
by 1 1/2" hole in the base. The knob on the top is a fun
addition. The technique used to produce the inner core with millefiori canes on the surface is sometimes called a cane roll-up. The Murano firms of Fratelli Toso and Barovier & Toso produced objects with this technique. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Fratelli Toso was started in 1854 by six brothers - Angelo Toso, Giovanni Toso, Ferdinando Toso, Carlo Toso, Gregorio Toso and Liberato Toso. They were joined by Ermanno Toso in 1924 who became artistic director. The Fratelli Toso company is well known for its use of colorful murrines and millefiori, particularly during the 1950's and earlier. In 1979, the company suffered a harsh economic crisis, forcing the owners to divide it into Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso and Fratelli Toso International. In 1981, Fratelli Toso International filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors for good. Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso, led by Arnoldo Toso, continued to operate. Size: 2 9/16" square at the widest. The base
is 2 1/8" square. 4 5/8" high including the knob. The
base is polished flat with a beveled edge. The center of the green
core is hollow and the paperweight has an irregular 5/8" by 1 1/2"
hole in the base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 5/5/2022 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5662 | Caithness 1983 Colin Terris Sea
Dance Paperweight. issued in 1983. This
paperweight represents a turbulent sea, or as the certificate
states, "five silvery dancers perform amidst the swirling fronds of
the sea bed". The ground color is an orange/gold layer over a
dark green. There are five large bubbles to represent the
dancers and a few smaller bubbles, so maybe there is some literary
license taken in the description. There is also a ring of
smaller bubbles surrounding the design. And one large center
bubble. It is etched on the base "Caithness SEADANCE
Scotland". There is also an engraved registration number
H103099". It comes with its original certificate. A fun
design. The Sea Dance design is listed and designated CT-337 on page 55 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1983 by Colin Terris. It was released in an unlimited edition. The original issue price in the US was $85.00. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Large size: 3 1/16" diameter by 2 3/4" high.
The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 4/30/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5916 | Randy Strong 2003 Abstract Flat Top
Iridescent Millefiori Paperweight. dated
2003. Contemporary abstract millefiori style paperweight
created by Randy Strong of Berkeley, California. The paperweight has
an unusual shape with the a large top and small base. It has
white and pink millefiori and an outer "garland" of white latticinio
twists. Iridescent pieces of blue and copper color fill in the
empty spaces. There is also a controlled pattern of tiny
bubbles in the clear glass edge. The underlying ground color
is black. It is signed "R. Strong 2003". A fun
paperweight with great color. Note: This paperweight has an unusual shape with the flat top considerably larger then the base. It is not a typical dome shaped object. Randy Strong has studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts 1971 from the Osaka University of the Arts, Osaka, Japan. He has been blowing glass and running his own studio in Northern California for over 40 years. His work has been collected and displayed throughout the world in such places as The Corning Museum of Glass (New York), The Louvre, the Osaka Museum of Art, The San Francisco Museum of Art, The Ludwig Schaffrath Collection (Germany), The John D. Rockefeller Collection, the IBM Collection (USA) and at the American Crafts exhibitions at Baltimore, West Springfield and Rhinebeck. Size: Just under 3" diameter at the top by 1 1/4"
high. The base has a diameter of 1". The top has a
flat profile. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 4/29/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5638 | Unusual Magnum Murano Paperweight with
Floral Decoration on Blue Plaque. circa 1960 -
1980. This unusual paperweight features floral decoration
painted in enamel on a blue plaque. The painting is signed "M.
Allin". The paperweight does not have a label but I am certain
it was made on the island of Murano in Venice. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Very large size: 3 3/16" diameter by 2 3/4"
high. The base has been polished flat. This
paperweight has a high profile typical of Murano paperweights. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/28/2022 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5934 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1981C Limited
Edition Magnum Aquarium Paperweight. dated
1981. This magnum paperweight features a colorful assortment
of sea life in a three dimensional display. There is a green
seahorse, a blue crab, a brown snail, and two fish amidst a large
pink seaweed. The design is placed on a grey sand
ground. It is signed with a complex "P 1981" signature cane in
the center of the base. It is also engraved with Peter
McDougall's "PMcD" signature on the base. It is faceted with
one large top facet and 24 side facets in three rows. This
design was made in a 1981 limited edition of 350 paperweights of
which 237 were actually made. It comes with its original
box. A very large stunning paperweight from Perthshire.
Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1981. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were eight Annual Collection designs in 1981, designated A through H. This design is designated 1981C. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Very large size: 3 3/8" diameter by 2 11/16"
high. The base is ground concave. Faceted with one
large top facet and 24 side facets in three rows. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1398 | Chinese Yellow Millefiori
Peacock Paperweight. circa 1945 -1970. This
is a uniquely Chinese invention. The paperweight is in the
form of an upright peacock with its bright yellow plumage (train) on
display. The feathers have red feather eyes. There is a
molded neck and head on the lower surface. Three red lines
simulate a crest. There are three types of millefiori used in
the construction: yellow feather canes, red eye canes, and a
single large mosaic cane for the body. We don't know exactly
when these first appeared but they were found in the US during the
1960s, so I believe this is a post WWII product. There is a
single flat facet on the lower edge to allow the paperweight to
stand upright. A fun collectible. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Large Size: 3 5/16" at the widest by 3 1/8" high by
just under 1 1/4" thick. The back is ground flat. The
lower edge has been ground flat to allow the peacock to rest
upright. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2012 | Chinese Miniature Orange Butterfly on
Green Ground Paperweight. circa 1940 - 1960. This
paperweight features an orange and yellow winged lampwork butterfly
flying with wings extended over a green frit ground. The
butterfly body is light green with two well defined antennae.
The green ground gives the glass a greenish tinge, but it is mostly
clear glass. This paperweight is unsigned. Note: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Miniature size: 2" diameter by 1 5/8"
high. The bottom is flat with remnants of the pontil scar. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$39 postage paid in the US. Added 4/28/2022 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5930 | Perthshire Millennium Special Limited
Edition Paperweight with Box & Certificate. dated
2000. This paperweight is a special limited edition created to
celebrate the Millennium. It features a ruby and white six
petaled flower in the center set on a yellow lace ground. This
is then surrounded by a ring of ruby and white millefiori
canes. The design is further surrounded by another ring of
five picture canes and a special Millennium 2000 date cane placed on
a white lace ground. It is signed with a complex "P" signature
cane in the base. The paperweight is faceted with one large
top facet and six side facets. This paperweight was made in a
limited edition of 500 paperweights. It comes with its
original certificate stating that it is edition 004 of the 500
paperweights and comes with its original box. A beautiful
addition to any collection of Perthshire paperweights.
Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 3" diameter by just over 1 7/8"
high. The base is polished concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/23/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 3547 | Baccarat 1987 Special Edition Double
Trefoil Millefiori Paperweight. dated 1987.
This modern millefiori paperweight features a double trefoil design
with a concentric pattern in the center. It has two interlaced
three lobe garlands of amber and burgundy. The concentric
design has green and amber circles. The design is placed on a
pale yellow lace ground. This was one of the special
paperweights featured in Baccarat's 1987 annual brochure. It
was made in this color arrangement only in 1987. It is signed
with a Baccarat's complex "B 1987" signature / date cane in the
design. This paperweight is also signed on the base with an
acid etched Baccarat mark along with the engraved year (1987) and
edition number (64). A fantastic paperweight. Note: After extensive research in the Baccarat archives, Paul Dunlop concluded that from 1986 to 1989, Baccarat made special editions of four designs using a different color scheme each year. For example, the double trefoil was made in each of the four years, but with a different color scheme each year. These designs were featured in the annual brochure for each year and were numbered sequentially. Although the edition size was not known he estimated that about 200 of each design were made. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
In 1952, Paul Jokelson approached Baccarat with the idea of making sulphide paperweights again. In 1953 Baccarat resumed paperweight production with a series of sulphide paperweights the first of which were the unsuccessful Eisenhower sulphide followed by the Queen Elizabeth coronation sulphide. Millefiori paperweight production was resumed in 1957 and lampwork paperweights were re-introduced in the early 1970s. Baccarat stopped making this type of fine glass paperweights in 2002. You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights in the new book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. Large Size: Just under 3 3/16" diameter by 2 3/8"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$465 postage paid in the US. Added 4/22/2022. For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5633 | Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 1970-1974. This is a
concentric millefiori paperweight with two concentric rings of
millefiori on a transparent green ground. The millefiori canes
are pale and transparent, making their details hard to see.
There are striations in the glass. The paperweight is
unsigned, but I guarantee it was made at Pairpoint Glass in
Sagamore, Massachusetts. Note: The colors in this paperweight made it difficult to take pictures. It looks better in real life than shown in the pictures. Pairpoint Glass has a long history
extending back to its earliest origins with Mount Washington
Glass in 1837. Owners and locations changed a number of
times and the name Pairpoint was first used in the 1890s.
The original Pairpoint companies were located in New Bedford,
Massachusetts. In 1938, it was reorganized as Gunderson
Glass Works by owner Robert Gunderson and later renamed the
Gunderson - Pairpoint Glass Works in 1952. The name was
acquired by Robert Bryden and the company moved briefly to East
Wareham, MA in 1957 where it operated as the Pairpoint Glass
Company. They leased production facilities in Spain.
The last New Bedford factory burned down in 1965. In its
latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved Pairpoint to Sagamore,
Massachusetts in 1970. It continues to operate at that
location today (2019) although under new owners. Size: 2 1/2" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
bottom is unfinished with the pontil scar remaining. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/20/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5664 | Large Caithness 1985 Limited
Edition Flair US Collectors Club Paperweight. This
paperweight features a single five petaled ruby colored flower
rising from a transparent aquamarine ground. The stem is
surrounded by a controlled pattern of bubbles. There is a
large dew drop (bubble) in the center of the flower. The
paperweight was issued in 1985 in a limited edition of 500
paperweights for members of the US Caithness Collectors Club.
This paperweight is etched on the base "CAITHNESS SCOTLAND FLAIR US
COLLECTORS PAPERWEIGHT" and is engraved "99/500". It comes
with its original certificate stating that it was designed by Colin
Terris and that this is edition 99 of a limited edition of 500
paperweights. A beautiful design. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Very large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2 3/4"
high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/16/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1868 | Rare 1930s Chinese Butterfly
Paperweight. circa 1930. This paperweight
features a red winged lampwork butterfly flying with wings extended
over millefiori frit ground. The wings are covered with
multi-colored dots. The butterfly body is light blue with two
well defined antennae. The frit ground consists of millefiori
cane slices. This paperweight is signed on the base with a
scratch signature "CHINA". A great example. Note: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the lights. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the
1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and
has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily
feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass.
And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or
other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the
1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free
of debris. Medium Size: Just over 2 1/2" diameter by just under
1 3/4" high. The bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 4/14/2022 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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on the picture to see a larger image |
| 2767 | Large Parabelle Glass 1989 Limited Edition
Looped Millefiori Garland on Opaque Blue Ground Paperweight. Dated
1989.
This
paperweight has a hexafoil six-looped garland of alternating pink
pastry mold canes and white edelweiss canes. There is a
pastry type green cane in the center of each loop and another
larger cane in the center of the design. All of the canes
are pressed into an opaque blue ground in the style of Clichy
color ground paperweights. The paperweight is signed with a
"PB 1989" cane in the design and also has a very worn silver label
with two bells, "PARABELLE GLASS Rings True HANDMADE IN USA" on
the base. This paperweight was issued in a limited edition
of 75 paperweights, but there are no edition markings on the
paperweight. Please note the comment below about condition
issues. A wonderful paperweight with great color. Note: Please note that there are some manufacturing defects in this paperweight. The ground color is uneven and there are some spots on the surface of the ground. In addition there is a 1/8" scratch on the side of the paperweight. Both problems are marked in one picture. The paperweight displays well in spite of these flaws. I am selling this paperweight at a very reduced price. Parabelle Glass was a small company created in 1981 by Gary and Doris Scrutton in Portland, Oregon. High quality paperweights were made in small quantities from 1983 to 1998 when they retired. Their best weights are some of the finest ever made, comparing favorably to the best classical French paperweights. Most designs were produced in limited editions of 10 to 25 paperweights, although some editions were larger. They also made some one of a kind paperweights. Doris passed away in 2013 and Gary followed in 2014. After the Scruttons retired in 1998, their daughter Julie Scrutton Lewis made some paperweights and jewelry using Parabelle millefiori canes. Large
Size: Just under 2 7/8" diameter by 1 7/8" high.
The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/23/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5418 | Rare Kosta Wδrff Jewel 8 Abstract Footed
Paperweight. Circa 1960s. This is very nice Swedish Art
Glass Paperweight designed by famous glass artist Gφran
Wδrff for Kosta Boda. It features a blue and amber
marbrie type design on a clear disk of crystal with a "knob" on
top. Titled "Jewel 8", this version has a 1 1/2" diameter foot
under the marbrie disk. "Jewel" is a series of glass objects
of different sizes and shapes all with the same blue marbrie
design. The series includes paperweights and vases. It
is signed on the base "Kosta Wδrff Jewel 8". A fascinating
design.
Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph. It is very striking and bold. Kosta is one of the oldest glass companies in the world, founded in 1742. Today, the company remains in operation having merged with glassworks in Boda and Εfors. The company name is now Orrefors Kosta Boda AB. Gφran and Ann Wδrff studied industrial design at a Bauhaus influenced school in Ulm Germany. They worked at the Pukeberg glassworks in Sweden and then in 1964 they joined Kosta Boda. In 1968, Ann and Gφran Wδrff shared in the Lunning Prize. Their work was a joint venture, and was occasionally signed Gφrann. They separated in 1972. She then adopted the name Ann Wolff. After 10 years of helping define a style with his innovative designs and processes at Kosta Boda, Gφran took leave for Australia, then England, where he worked and taught. He returned to Kosta Boda in 1984. Medium size: Just over 2 1/2" diameter by 2 5/16"
high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/22/2022 For more information about paperweights from other countries, see my Paperweights from Other Countries Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4044 | Sarah Rudin Maytum Studio Iridescent
Translucent Pink Twist Paperweight. dated 1988.
Shimmering iridescent and translucent pink twist paperweight made by
Sarah Rudin at Maytum Studio. It is signed on the base
""Maytum Studio 1988 Rudin ©". It
is a fun paperweight with great color. Brian Maytum had a studio in Boulder Colorado and made glass there since the early 1980s. As of 2021, he had retired a few years ago. Sarah Rudin worked at the Maytum Studio in the 1980s. I have no other information on these two talented glass artists. Large size: 2
7/8" diameter by 3" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$75 postage paid in the US. Added 3/18/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5624 | Magnum St. Louis 1970 Faceted Red Double
Clematis Paperweight. dated 1970. This
paperweight features a wonderful red double clematis with twelve red
petals in two layers, an emerging bud, green sepals, leaves
and stems. There is a complex yellow St. Louis "SL 1970"
signature / date cane in the center of the clematis. The
signature cane is rotated in its placement (almost upside
down). The design is placed over a opaque dark blue (almost
black) ground. The paperweight is faceted with one large top
facet and six side facets. St. Louis started producing annual
limited editions in 1970. This paperweight, the double
clematis, was issued in a limited edition of 800 paperweights, 300
of which were reserved for the American market. Of those
reserved for American collectors, 150 were red and 150 were
pistachio colored. A wonderful paperweight.
St. Louis started producing annual limited editions in 1970. Only three designs were produced in 1970, this faceted double clematis, a large unfaceted dahlia, and a millefiori double overlay mushroom. These paperweights appear in the the two books on St. Louis paperweights, The Art of the Paperweight - Saint Louis (First Edition (1981) and Second Edition (1995) by Gerard Ingold. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in 1766. The region was already home to several glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in 1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small. Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or dated. The most successful product of this early revival period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In 1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual limited edition paperweights. In addition to the three types already mentioned, millefiori, lampwork, and sulphide paperweights, St. Louis also made a small number of designs with gold inclusions. Very Large Size : 3 1/4" diameter by 2" high.
The bottom is ground concave. It is faceted with one large
top facet and six side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$595 postage paid in the US. Added 3/17/2022 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis factory, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5277 | Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature
Yellow Lampwork Flower with Pink Ground Paperweight.
circa 1962 - 1969. This very early paperweight by Francis
Whittemore features a six petal yellow flower with two green leaves
and a stem. It is signed in the design with an early
Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a
yellow background. The design is placed on a pink
ground. It is an important early example of Francis
Whittemore's work and worthy of any collection of Whittemore
paperweights. Note: This lampwork flower paperweight is similar to the millefiori type examples with the same frit ground offered in Larry Selman's first two editions of "CATALOGUE OF COLLECTORS' PAPERWEIGHTS". See the 1970 Catalog (robins egg blue cover) or the 1971 Catalog (olive green cover). Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 5/16" diameter by 1 3/16" high. This paperweight has a very low profile. The base is polished concave.Signature: Signed in the design with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background. Condition: Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 3/16/2022 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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on the picture to see a larger image |
| 5623 | Large St. Louis 1980 Pansy on Lace Ground
Limited Edition Paperweight with Fancy Cutting. dated
1980. This dramatic St. Louis paperweight has a large lampwork
pansy with leaves and stem set on a lace ground. The pansy has
two dark blue upper petals, and three yellow lower petals. In
the center of the flower is a complex millefiori cane. Each
lower petal has three dark lines (crows feet) radiating from the
central cane. There is a large top facet and a fancy side
cutting with 18 side cuts. It is signed with a complex
signature cane "SL 1980" on the base. The paperweight was
issued in a limited edition of 400 paperweights of which 250 were
reserved for American collectors. It comes with its original
certificate saying it is copy number 111 of the 250 American
copies. A wonderful addition to any collection of St. Louis
paperweights. Note: This paperweight was issued in a limited edition of 400 paperweights of which 250 were reserved for American collectors. The original issue price in 1980 was $450. Cristalleries de Saint Louis was
founded in 1767 in Lorraine, which became part of France in
1766. The region was already home to several
glassworks. Paperweight production started at St. Louis in
1845 and most likely continued until about 1860. Although
the modern production of paperweights started in 1952, the
output of millefiori and lampwork paperweights was small.
Fewer than 400 lampwork and millefiori paperweights were made
between 1952 and 1955. They were not all signed or
dated. The most successful product of this early revival
period was the Queen Elizabeth sulphide which was made to
commemorate her coronation in 1953. After 1955, no
additional weights were made at St. Louis until 1965. In
1965 the factory resumed production of lampwork and millefiori
paperweights and then in 1967 they began a series of sulphide
weights. Finally, in 1970 they started producing annual
limited edition paperweights. Large Size: 3" diameter by 1 13/16" high. The
base is ground concave. The paperweight is faceted with one
large top facet and a fancy side cutting with 18 side cuts. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 3/15/2022 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Louis glass factory in France, see my St. Louis Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5661 | Caithness 1987 Colin Terris Pink
Champagne Paperweight. issued in 1987. This
whimsical paperweight is intended to remind us of a glass of bubbly
pink champagne. There is a wispy bubble covered pink center
and an outer layer of clear bubbled glass. And one large
center bubble. It is etched on the base "Caithness PINK
CHAMPAGNE Scotland". There is also a hard to read registration
number which I think is H120776" or "11120776". A fun
design. The PINK CHAMPAGNE design is listed and designated CT-550 on page 86 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1987 by Colin Terris. It was released in an unlimited edition. The original issue price in the US was $69.50. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 2 7/8" high.
The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 3/8/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 3739 | Robert Banford Red Clematis with
Buds and Bee Faceted Paperweight with Fancy Base Cutting. circa
1990. This paperweight features a wonderful red clematis with
a yellow center and three companion buds in various states of
opening. A delightful detailed bee hovers over the
flower. There are many green leaves and a stem. The
design is in clear crystal with a powder blue ground at the base of
the paperweight. It is faceted with a large top facet and six
side facets. In addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower
portion below the facets. The paperweight is signed with Bob
Banford's B signature cane at the tip of the stem. The
cutting is by Ed Poore. A very desirable addition to any
collection of contemporary American paperweights. Robert Banford worked in Hammonton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his father, Ray Banford. Bob continued to make paperweights until 2006. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights, but it is sometimes possible to get an idea of when a paperweight was made by the progression of styles and the type of glass used. Bob Banford used a signature cane with a red "B" and a blue surround. Ray Banford used a different signature cane with a black B. Ray passed away in 2003.
Large size: Just under 3 1/16" diameter by just over
2 1/8" high. The bottom is ground concave. It is
faceted with a large top facet and six side facets. In
addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower portion below the
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$850 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. 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. |
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| 5621 | Miniature Strathearn Eight Pointed Star
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Turquoise Ground.
circa 1963-1968. This miniature paperweight features a three
ring concentric millefiori design and is finished as a eight pointed
star. The ground is an opaque turquoise. The star points
give the glass a glittery appearance. This paperweight has a
Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and "STRATHEARN HAND
MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. A great addition to any
collection of Scottish glass. This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape. The top is flattened. The star points give the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Miniature size: 2 diameter by 1 3/16
high. The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 3/4/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5648 | Magnum Selkirk 1988 Limited Edition
Abstract Calypso Paperweight with Certificate. dated
1988. This paperweight has a colorful abstract design
reminiscent of a twirling calypso dancer kicking up dust on the
ground. It is number 51 out of a limited edition of 500
paperweights. It is signed in script on the base "SELKIRK
GLASS SCOTLAND CALYPSO 51/500 1988" and comes with its original
certificate. A fantastic item from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by
Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under
Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness
until 1977. Ron Hutchinson, a graduate of Edinburgh
University, was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide
range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and
millefiori paperweights. The company was located in
Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point
they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in
operation until 2006. Very large size: 3 5/16" diameter by 2 3/16" high.
The bottom is ground concave. Magnum sized, it weighs 28
ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 2/20/2022 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5530 | Ed Rithner Eight Petal Teal Flower
Paperweight. circa 1940-1970. An upright flower
with eight teal green petals over a speckled green cushion
ground. Each petal has a white outline. The cushion
ground has four pleats with a carefully placed bubble between each
pleat. There is also a planned bubble in the center of the
larger flower at the top. A classic Rithner design.
Ed Rithner worked in Wellsburg, West Virginia from 1908 to the 1970s or later. You can read about Ed Rithner in Jean Melvin's book on American Glass Paperweights and their Makers . All of Rithner's weights are unsigned. Large size: 3" diameter by 2 3/8" high. The
base is fire finished and then ground to a matte finish in the
center to remove the pontil mark. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$115 postage paid in the US. Added 2/18/2022 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4837 |
Whitefriars 1978 Christmas Millefiori
Paperweight - The Journey to Bethlehem. dated
1978. This is a hard to find Whitefriars Christmas paperweight
featuring a millefiori mosaic of the Mary and Joseph on their
journey to Bethlehem guided by the Star of Bethlehem shining above
them. Mary is depicted riding a donkey with Joseph leading the
way on foot. There is a light blue carpet ground of complex
millefiori canes surrounding the mosaic and also a two ring
millefiori garland of complex canes on the outside. It is
signed in the design with a Whitefriars signature cane having a
white monk and the year 1978. It also has a worn Whitefriars
paper label with a white silhouette of a monk and the text
"WHITEFRIARS FULL LEAD CRYSTAL MADE IN ENGLAND". This
paperweight was issued in a limited edition of 1,000 paperweights of
which only 610 were sold, including 102 to the United States.
A marvelous paperweight.
The Whitefriars Christmas paperweights were limited editions made in 1975 through 1980, each with a different Christmas theme. The central pictorial mosaic cane was created by Ray Annenburg. Ray started working at Whitefriars in 1953 and became their chief cane maker in 1972. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for a while. Large size: 3 1/16" diameter by 1 7/8" high.
The base is ground concave. Faceted with one top facet and five
side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 2/16/2022 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4325 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1978C Limited
Edition Bluebell Faceted Paperweight.
circa 1978. This paperweight features three Scottish bluebell
blossoms on a stem with green leaves. The design is set on a
clear ground. It has one convex top facet, sixteen convex side
facets in two rows, and a star-cut base. It is signed with a
complex "P" signature cane near the base of the stem. This
design was made in a 1978 limited edition of 350 paperweights of
which all were made. A nice crisp design that glitters. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1978. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were six Annual Collection designs in 1978, designated A through F. This design is designated 1978C. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Small size: 2 1/4" diameter by 1 11/16" high.
The base is finished with a fancy star-cutting. The
paperweight is faceted with one convex top facet and sixteen
convex side facets in two rows. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$275 postage paid in the US. Added 2/14/2022 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2128 | Rare Large Chinese White Paperweight with
Squirrel Eating Grapes. circa 1930. This large
Chinese white paperweight has a colored painting of squirrel sitting
upright and eating a luscious bunch of grapes. The painting is
created on a white enamel base and then encased in glass. The
style dates from the 1930s and is almost an antique.
This paperweight is a form of Chinese folk art although it was most likely inspired by frit weights from Southern New Jersey. I believe the Chinese were given examples of Millville frit weights to duplicate. Since they were already experienced in painting on ceramics, they applied their own unique interpretation to paperweights using a white enamel disk as the base and incorporating familiar themes already found in Chinese art. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. In general, Chinese paperweights from this period have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Large size: Just over 2 11/16" diameter by 1
7/8" high. The base is finished base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 2/11/2022 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4309 | Large Iridized Royal Brierley Studio (Isle
of Wight Studio Glass) Paperweight. 1988-1991.
Wonderful patterned paperweight made at the Isle of Wight Studio
Glass as part of their Royal Brierley Studio line. It was
designed by Elizabeth Harris. I believe the pattern is either
the Silk or Lace finish and it features an iridized metallic pattern
on the surface with a brilliant blue core. It is signed on the
base with an acid etched "Royal Brierley Studio" - although the etch
was applied in reverse. There is a lot of confusion on the web as to the origin of the Royal Brierley Studio glass line which was made by the Isle of Wight Studio Glass, Old Park, St Lawrence during the period 1985-2000. The confusion is because of the existence of another company named Royal Brierley Crystal. Isle of Wight Studio Glass was established in 1973 by one of the founders of the British Studio Glass Movement, Michael Harris (1933 1994). Michael graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1959 and later became an RCA tutor, setting up hot glass facilities there in 1967. The following year he founded Mdina Glass in Malta, remaining there until 1972, when he moved back to the UK. In 1973, with his wife Elizabeth Harris, he founded Isle of Wight Studio Glass, in Old Park, St Lawrence where it continued until his premature death in 1994. The glass studio continued to operate under the guidance of his son Timothy Harris until 2012. It is worth mentioning that there is also a Royal Brierley Crystal which had a brief connection to the design activity that became Royal Brierley Studio line but was not the same company. Royal Brierley Crystal traced its origins to Smith & Williams Glass (founded 1846) and before that to Brierley Hill Glass Works (founded in 1740). In the mid 1970s, Catherine Hough was the Artist in Residence for two years at Royal Brierley Crystal. She was experimenting with enameling and electroplating on her blown objects. Royal Brierley Crystal was interested in creating a newer product line of studio glass and Hough assisted in the establishment of a Studio at Royal Brierley Crystal. Michael Harris was commissioned to design these pieces which had an iridized finish over red or blue (Loetz-like). The Studio effort was short lived and ended about 1982, but some of the design ideas were continued by Michael Harris and Elizabeth Harris at the Isle of Wight Studio Glass. Large Size: 3 1/16" diameter and just under 2
11/16" high. The base is polished concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $125 postage paid in the US.
Added 2/3/2022 For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.
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| 4326 | Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink and White
Icepick Flower Paperweight. circa 1960-1970. This
very large paperweight features five pink and white ice-pick flowers
over a white frit ground. As is typical of this style, there
is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a
carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each flower.
It is hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom. A very flashy
paperweight. This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood. Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice. Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories. Bob St. Clair died in 1986. Joe St. Clair died in 1987. Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother, Paul St. Clair died in 2000. Very large size: 3 11/16" diameter by 2 9/16"
high. It weighs over 28 ounces and will be over two pounds
when packaged. The base is finished flat and hot stamped in
the center with the signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 12/26/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1700 | Magnum Chinese Copy of the Famous Clichy
Millefiori Basket Paperweight - Heart Shaped. Circa
2000. This very large millefiori paperweight has a basket form
with a heart shaped top. The top is bulging with flowers
arranged in a complex millefiori garland pattern on a moss
ground. The top is edged with a reddish orange and white
torsade lip. The sides of the basket are formed using green
and white staves and the base also has a reddish orange and white
torsade lip. It was originally marketed on the QVC television
network and was sold as a "lamp" with a lighted stand. This
copy does not have the stand. A fun addition to any collection
of glass paperweights. Note: While the resemblance to the antique Clichy basket paperweight is unmistakable, this paperweight is considerably larger than the original which was only 4 1/4" in diameter. The original antique was oval shaped rather than heart shaped. The original Clichy antique held the record for the most expensive paperweight ever sold. It sold for $258,500 to a private collector at a Sotheby's auction in New York on June 26, 1990. Unfortunately it was dropped and damaged beyond repair. You can see the cover of the Sotheby's auction with a picture of the Clichy basket at this link: Sotheby's Catalog Very large size: 7 1/2" wide by 7" deep by 3 7/8"
high. The base is ground flat. It weighs 102 ounces
(six pounds six ounces) and will be approximately eight pounds
when boxed for mailing. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$275 plus postage. For this item, because of the weight (8 pounds packaged), the buyer will pay the postage. US Sales only, no international shipping. Added 12/9/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5513 | Magnum Rosenthal Studio-Linie Swirl
Paperweight. circa 1971 or later. This very large
and wonderful Rosenthal swirl paperweight features a swirl of white
glass over a clear crystal ground. It is acid etch marked on
the base with the name Rosenthal, the crown and crossed swords logo,
and Studio-Linie underneath. A dramatic addition to any
collection of glass paperweights. Rosenthal was founded in 1879 as a family business. Originally the focus was porcelain manufacture and porcelain painting. In 1960, the Rosenthal Studiohaus was opened in Nuremberg and in 1965 the name was changed briefly to Rosenthal Glas & Porzellan AG and then in 1960 to Rosenthal AG in 1969. From 1997 to 2008, the Rosenthal AG owned most of the British-Irish Waterford Wedgwood Group. The Studio-Linie mark was used from 1971 to at least 1995. Since the Rosenthal mark on this paperweight does not identify the country of origin (normally Germany), it is possible that the paperweight was made at Waterford, but I have no evidence one way or the other. Very large size: 4 5/15 diameter by 2 15/16
high. The base is polished flat. It weighs just under
three pounds (47.1 ounces). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. 11/6/2021 For more paperweights from other countries, see my Other Countries Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5344 | Large David and Jon Trabucco Faceted
Yellow Flower Paperweight with Buds. circa
1985-2000. This paperweight consists of a large five petal
yellow flower with two yellow buds and variegated leaves and stems
on a clear ground. The flower has a wonderful complex center
composed multiple tubes, filaments and pads. It is signed with
a stretched "T" signature cane on the underside of a leaf. The
paperweight is faceted with a large top facet and six side
facets. A fabulous paperweight.
Twin brothers David and Jon Trabucco learned glass working under the direction of their father, the accomplished glass artist Victor Trabucco. When they first started out, David made the floral setups and Jon did the encasement and cutting, but over time they both became involved in all aspects of paperweight production. They are now accomplished glass artists in their own right. They have their own studio and also continue to work with Victor at the large Trabucco Glass Studio in Clarence, NY. Victor Trabucco's original career
was as a steelworker. He began working with glass in 1974
after seeing a flameworker make a sculpture. He knew this was
what he wanted to do for his life's work. Trabucco says that
Glass is the ultimate challenge; it has properties of no other
material and offers the artist possibilities that are inspiring
for the creative process. His work is often inspired by nature,
capturing the beauty and motion of the subject and freezing a
moment in time. His work is in the collection of many major
museums. Victor set up his first studio in the basement of
his house and learned by experimentation. He now works
with his sons Jon and David in a large studio in Clarence, NY. Large Size: 2 7/8 diameter by 2 3/16
high. The base is ground slightly concave. The
paperweight is faceted with a large top facet and six side facets.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$575 postage paid in the US. Added 11/1/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4285 | Magnum Caithness 1977 Colin
Terris Jubilee Moonflower Limited Edition Paperweight.
dated 1977. This paperweight is one of a group of
four Caithness paperweights created to celebrate the silver jubilee
of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. The large spherical Caithness
paperweight features a celebratory fountain design with four large
bubbles and a center spray. There are nine smaller bubbles at
a lower level. The design is set over a clear
ground. This paperweight is engraved "EiiR 1952 - 1977"
and the number 501. It is number 501 in a limited edition of
3,000 paperweights. It also has a worn Caithness label "CG
HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" with writing in blue ink on it. A
beautiful design. The JUBILEE MOONFLOWER design is listed and designated CT-70 on page 18 of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Caithness Paperweights. It was designed in 1977 by Colin Terris. It was released in a limited edition of 3,000 paperweights, all of which were made. This design was one of four paperweights in the HM Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Collection. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Very large size: Just under 3 3/16" diameter by 2
11/16" high. The base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 10/29/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4805 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1989F Limited
Edition Cherries Faceted Paperweight.
circa 1989. This paperweight features five cherries with green
leaves and stems on a clear ground. The all over honeycomb
faceting makes it appear as if there are many more cherries than
just five. It has a grid cut base and is engraved with a "P"
signature on a facet near the base. This design was made in a
1989 limited edition of 300 paperweights of which only 154 were
made. A nice crisp design with many reflections. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1989. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1989, designated A through G. This design is designated 1989F. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: 2 7/16" diameter by 1 1/2" high.
The base is fire finished and engraved with the letter "P".
The paperweight is faceted with one large top facet and five side
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 9/4/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1693 | Rare Chinese Scramble Paperweight with
"MADE IN CHINA" Signature Canes. circa 1930. An
entertaining addition from China. Since this style was
intended to be a copy of a French scramble or end of day weight from
1845-1860 (probably St. Louis or Clichy), it leaves you wondering
why they chose to add the "MADE IN CHINA" canes at the bottom.
Perhaps it was a response to the US customs requirement that goods
be marked with the country of origin in English starting about
1930. Some importers complied by scratch signing the word
CHINA on the bottom. In any event, this is a rare and welcome
addition to any collection of Chinese paperweights. As
with most Chinese paperweights, this paperweight has a light
weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish
tinge. The glass has a soft oily feel and there
are some light scratches. This example is especially
colorful with a nice variety of twist cans and millefiori slices. Special thanks to another collector who
pointed out that the words are actually word canes rather than
painted plaques. The lettering goes all the way through
the white background from top to bottom. You can see the
letters in reverse from the bottom. This is in contrast to
a painted plaque where the letters would be visible on only the
top surface. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the 1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the 1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free of debris.
Small Size: Just over 2 1/16 diameter by just
over 1 1/16" high. The base is fire finished
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 8/30/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4281 | Large Whitefriars Faceted Six Ring Red
White & Blue Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. dated
1975. This paperweight has six concentric rings of red, white,
and blue millefiori canes around a center cane with a star
center. The ground is clear crystal. Typical heavy
Whitefriars lead crystal. The paperweight is faceted with a
large top facet and five large side facets. It has a
Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1975 in
the outermost white ring (the fifth ring from the center) and also
has a paper label used starting in 1970. With its bold colors,
this is a very nice addition to any collection of millefiori
paperweights. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for awhile. Large size: 3 1/8" diameter by 1 7/8" high.
The base is ground concave. Faceted with a total of one
large top facet and five large side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 8/29/2021 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5382 | Antique New England Glass Company (NEGC)
Blown Glass Pear Paperweight - Good Condition. circa
1860. This is a wonderful antique New England Glass Company
(NEGC) life-size blown pear placed on a round clear glass
cookie. The pear is hollow. It is complete with blossom
end up in the air and an intact stem resting on the clear
cookie. The coloration shades from a light red to a
yellow-green. Unlike most examples of this type, there is no
crackling of the surface. The paperweight displays beautifully
with the sides or stem end displayed. Please read the note
below about condition. If you don't already have one in
your collection, this is a chance to acquire a NEGC blown pair at a
bargain price. Note on condition: Unfortunately there is an area near the blossom end that has a loss of surface color and a strange white stripe where no color was applied. There is some chipping near the blossom end. And there is also a tiny nick in the area of deep red where some color is lost. Finally, there is a fracture at the bottom of the pear visible only through the base. The most common NEGC blown fruit are apples and pears, although some collectors have seen other fruits. It is not unusual to find pieces of these fruit in scramble paperweights, mixed in with millefiori and twist canes. The shading of the colors on the exterior often leads to crackling and this flaw is found in varying degrees in many blown fruit paperweights. Normally a NEGC hollow blown pear paperweight would be a $800 to $1,000 paperweight but this one is offered at a considerably reduced price to compensate for the flaws in condition. The New England Glass Company (NEGC) operated
in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1818 to 1888. You
can read about paperweights from the New England Glass Company
in the book by John Hawley. The Art of the
Paperweight - The Boston & Sandwich and New England
Glass Companies covers both B&S and NEGC or the newer
book by John Hawley devoted just to NEGC, The Art of the
Paperweight - The New England Glass Company. Size: The pear itself is 2 1/2 diameter by 3 1/4
long. Overall dimensions are 3 7/16" diameter by 2 9/16"
high. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$325 postage paid in the US. Added 8/28/2021 For more information about Antique Paperweights, see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2270 | German or Bohemian Souvenir Paperweight
with Ruby Stain Engraved Scene of Mόnster in Freiburg.
circa 1840-1910. This is a large footed
paperweight with an engraved image of the cathedral of Freiburg im
Breisgau in southwest Germany. There are initials after the
title which I assume are those of the engraver. The engraving is
done from the bottom which has a ruby stain. The paperweight
has a footed or pedestal base. The techniques used in this type of paperweight are attributed to the pioneering work with colored stains (sometimes incorrectly called flash overlays) by Friedrich Egermann (1774-1864) in North Bohemia. Egermann discovered methods of applying metallic salts to glass to produce a colored stain. Silver salts would produce a yellow stain, copper salts would produce a ruby stain, etc. The application of this colored layer enabled many Bohemian (and also European) glass factories to engrave a variety of images as souvenirs of the prominent buildings and spas throughout Europe. The style became known as spa paperweights. Although the technique was enabled by Egermann's discoveries, it is not possible to attribute this paperweight to a specific factory, engraver, or country. There is an excellent article this subject with many examples in the 2016 Annual Bulletin of the Paperweight Collectors Association "19th Century Engraved Bohemian Paperweights: Spas and Other Local Views" by Jim and Nancy Barton. Bohemian Glass generally refers to the glass made in the regions that form the border area between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Most of these areas are now parts of the western Czech Republic. Size: 3 7/8" diameter by approximately 1 3/8" high.
The foot has a diameter of 3 1/2". For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$135 postage paid in the US. Added 8/27/2021 For more information about Bohemian paperweights, see my Bohemian
Paperweights
Web Page
.
(dl-boh-ant) |
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| 2528 | Antique Belgian or Bohemian Doorknob with
Miniature Concentric Millefiori Paperweight Handle. circa
1880-1910. This is a wonderful antique doorknob with a
concentric millefiori paperweight handle. The handle has
bright colors on a clear ground. It has two concentric circles
of canes around a complex center cane. The outer ring
alternates between larger complex blue and white canes and simpler
red and white canes. One red cane is missing. The inner
ring consists of six large identical white, pink, and yellow complex
canes. There is a complex green, pink, and yellow center
cane. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. It has
similarities to a group of paperweights believed to have originated
at an unidentified glass factory in Belgium, Northern Europe, or
even Bohemia. The hardware portion is in good condition with a
fixed spindle. The design is well centered and a wonder to
study. This paperweight has a strong similarity to a group of paperweights and doorknobs that are believed to have originated at an unidentified glass factory in Belgium or Northern Europe. Bohemian Glass generally refers to the glass made in the regions that form the border area between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Most of these areas are now parts of the western Czech Republic. Size: The knob is 1 13/16" diameter by 2 3/16" long
including the brass hardware, but not the spindle. With the
spindle, it is 4 13/16" long. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$235 postage paid in the US. Added 8/26/2021 For more information about Bohemian paperweights, see my Bohemian
Paperweights
Web Page
.
(dl-boh-ant) |
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| 4748 | Miniature 1930s Chinese Millefiori
Brushholder Paperweight - Aladdin's Lamp Shape.
c.1930-1940. This is another uniquely Chinese invention,
although one that adopted the use of millefiori found in
paperweights from other countries. This has also been
described as a chopstick holder. Novelty items like this
started appearing in the US in the 1930s and some were sold at the
1939 World's Fair. I call this shape the Aladdin's lamp
shape. A fun collectible. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston &Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from this period have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Size: 2 1/2 long by 1 1/2" tall by 1 7/16"
deep. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$35 postage paid in the US. Added 8/20/2021 For more paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5349 | Francis Whittemore Pink Cyclamen Flower
with Leaves and Bud Paperweight. circa 1969. This
paperweight features a pink cyclamen flower and bud with two green
leaves and stems. Signed on the back of a leaf with an early
Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a
yellow background. The design is placed on a translucent green
ground. There is an edition number "53" engraved on the base,
but I was unable to determine the edition size. A beautiful
example. This paperweight is shown in the Leo Kaplan Ltd. catalog on the 9/85 insert. M210 is described as a "Pink cyclamen on translucent green ground $400". Note: The highly reflective surface and high dome made this a difficult paperweight to photograph. There are extra shadows and objects in the pictures that are not in the paperweight. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: Just under 2 7/16" diameter by 2"
high. The bottom is ground flat. The edition number "53" is
engraved on the base. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. Added 8/19/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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| 1472 | Unusual Miniature Chinese Mosaic
Millefiori Paperweight with Rose Cane. circa
1950-70. Unusual Chinese millefiori with mosaic canes.
There are red and yellow star canes surrounded by leaf canes and a
single rose cane. I have no idea what the pattern is supposed
to represent. Very little is known about this style.
Other examples have a butterfly pattern and some have Chinese
writing in the design. The style is believed to be from
1950-1970.
Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the earliest period (1930-1950) have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. This paperweight has a slightly better glass, but it is not crystal clear like modern paperweights. Miniature Size: 1 13/16" diameter by 1 1/2"
high. The bottom is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$39 postage paid in the US. Added 8/17/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4850 | Magnum Baccarat 1975 Gridel Series
Pheasant Concentric Millefiori Limited Edition
Paperweight. dated 1975. This modern three
ring concentric millefiori paperweight features a large white
pheasant silhouette on a black background in the center. This
large center cane is surrounded by a circle of yellow millefiori
canes. The middle ring of canes has seventeen small Gridel
canes plus a Baccarat "B 1975" signature / date cane. The
pheasant Gridel appears only in the center, not in the middle
ring. The design is set on a transparent blue ground. In
addition to the Baccarat signature / date cane, this paperweight has
an acid etched Baccarat mark on the base along with the engraved
year (1975) and engraved edition number (46). This is a nice
balanced design. A beautiful addition to any collection of
Baccarat paperweights. This design was released in 1975 in a limited edition of 350 pieces. This is number 46 in that series. There is a signature / date cane "B 1975" shown in the pictures. The base has an acid etched Baccarat logo plus it is engraved with the year (1975) and the edition number (46). In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other figures included in the design. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
In 1952, Paul Jokelson approached Baccarat with the idea of making sulphide paperweights again. In 1953 Baccarat resumed paperweight production with a series of sulphide paperweights the first of which were the unsuccessful Eisenhower sulphide followed by the Queen Elizabeth coronation sulphide. Millefiori paperweight production was resumed in 1957 and lampwork paperweights were re-introduced in the early 1970s. Baccarat stopped making this type of fine glass paperweights in 2002. You can read more about the Baccarat paperweights in the new book Baccarat Paperweights - two centuries of beauty by Paul Dunlop or one of the older books on paperweights in general, such as The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights by Paul Hollister or World Paperweights by Robert Hall. Very large size: 3 3/16" diameter by 2 3/8"
high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 8/14/2021 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5183 | Josh Simpson Miniature Gravitron
Planet Marble with Stand. This a
miniature (just under 2" diameter) Gravitron planet marble made by
Josh Simpson. Gravitrons evoke deep
space phenomena such as black holes and the warping of
space-time.
They represent planets that wander too near a black hole, where
they are twisted and squashed by unfathomably intense
gravity. Josh captures the instant when these unfortunate
planets have been almost consumed and all that remains is a
memory and a puff of X-ray light. Although clear glass, the
controlled bubbles sometimes have an iridescent color. Some
of the bubbles have a speck of amber color, which is exaggerated
by my lights. An acrylic 2"
tall by 1 1/2" by 1 5/16" dimple stand is included. This
example is unsigned. Josh Simpson has been making magical glass objects including paperweights for over 40 years. He has long had a fascination with space exploration and is married to Astronaut Cady Coleman. He is a graduate of Hamilton College and has his own glass studio in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. He focuses on creating objects with a range of color, form, contrast, iridescence, tessellating patterns and complexity. There is a great book Josh Simpson: Glass Artist by Andrew Chaikin. I recommend it highly. Miniature Size: 1 15/16" diameter glass
sphere. The acrylic stand is 2" tall by 1 1/2" by 1 5/16". For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 7/14/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5017 | Late Ysart Brothers or Early Vasart
Paneled Millefiori Paperweight - Many Annealing Cracks.
circa 1952-1956. This colorful paperweight consists of a
paneled millefiori pattern with eight sections with 1 green +2 brown
millefiori canes each separated by a red and blue twist cane.
There is a central cluster of two rings of canes, 15 blue and 5
orange canes, around a central cross cane. The design is set
on a clear ground. The glass is slightly
gray. Unfortunately this paperweight is filled with many
internal annealing fractures / cracks. See the note below for
more information on the cause. An interesting historical
addition to any collection of Scottish paperweights. Note on annealing fractures / cracks: According to David Moir, who was an apprentice at the Ysart Brothers Shore Road works in 1954, the glass works had a lot of annealing problems at the Shore Road factory because it was fired with poor quality coke. It was difficult to maintain a level annealing temperature and sometimes would get too hot or too cold. Temperature was judged by putting your arm inside the oven to feel the heat. The problem was solved when George Dunlop (owner of Pirelli Glass in London) brought in fresh capital, equipment, and orders. This included an electrically controlled second-hand kiln from Rolls Royce which was a vast improvement on the old one and had electric temperature gauges. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. Paul Ysart (1904-1991), originally Pablo Moreno Isart, was apprenticed to his father as a glass worker at Moncrieff in 1922. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955. Shortly later, George Dunlop, the owner of Pirelli Glass in London, brought in fresh capital, equipment, and orders. Vincent Ysart and George Dunlop formed a new company in 1956, Vasart Glass Ltd. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. The factory was taken over by Stuart Glass in 1980, and renamed Stuart Strathearn Ltd. Production ceased in 1992. Size: Just under 3" diameter by 1 15/16"
high. The base is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 7/14/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4747 | Antique Paperweight Style Mystery
Object - Probably a Cut Down Candle Holder. circa
1900. I don't know for sure what this was originally. It
is safe to assume the shape has been altered because it has no
apparent use in its current form except as paperweight. It has
a cup at one end and the other end is faceted with a flat
base. The middle section has a paperweight form with ice pick
flowers and small bubbles. The faceted end has a five sided
shape in the center with five sloping cuts away from that. I'm
certain it is an antique and that the cup end has not been
modified. The way the bubbles in the faceted end are towards
the center suggests that the cup was originally the up side.
I've discussed this with other collectors and our best guess is that
this was originally a candle holder for a fairly large candle which
would fit the cup. It is also likely that the original shape
was supported by a five sided stem and larger base to provide
stability. If you look at pictures of older style candle
holders or candlesticks you can find some with a round cup and
faceted stem. An interesting object - too good to throw in the
trash. I'm not asking much for it. Note: Although this object can be used in its current form as a candle holder, but caution you not to use it with a lighted candle. It doesn't have the large base that would normally provide the necessary stability. Size: In its current form, it is 3" long, the cup
has a diameter of 2". The inner diameter of the cup is just
over 1 1/2". The base is flat in the center. The
original shape is unknown. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 7/10/2021 For more information about antique paperweights see my Antique Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5278 | Very Early Francis Whittemore Miniature
Paperweight with White and Blue Millefiori Flowers on a Pink
Ground. circa 1962 - 1969. This very early
paperweight by Francis Whittemore features five small white
millefiori flowers with blue star centers. There is also a
stem and two green leaves. The design is placed on a powdery
pink ground. This paperweight is signed in the design with an
early Whittemore signature cane, a black "W" on a yellow
background. This is an important early example of
Francis Whittemore's work and worthy of any collection of Whittemore
paperweights. Note: This paperweight is almost the same as the examples offered in Larry Selman's first two editions of "CATALOGUE OF COLLECTORS' PAPERWEIGHTS". See the 1970 Catalog (robins egg blue cover) or the 1971 Catalog (olive green cover). Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed prior to working at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Size: 2 3/8" diameter by 1 1/8" high. This paperweight has a very low profile. The base is flat with a concave center.Signature: Signed in the design with an early Whittemore signature cane. The cane has a black "W" on a yellow background. Condition: Excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection. There are many bubbles in the ground and a few striations in the glass. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$165 postage paid in the US. Added 7/10/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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| 4712 | Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted
Pedestal Spider Lily Paperweight with Opaque Red Ground. circa
1960-1980. This is a miniature pedestal paperweight with a
turquoise and white spider lily and four leaves on a rich dark red
ground. The flower has a turquoise stripe on each petal and
the stamen is a yellow millefiori cane. Each leaf is a double
leaf - two leaves with a clear layer joining them so a bit of the
red ground shows through. This makes it look like each leaf
has a red stripe down the center. The paperweight is tilted at
a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully. Signed on the
white underside of the red ground with a gold K.
This design was Charles Kaziun's signature design and one of the most popular with collectors. This size and style was often referred to as a #1. Charles Kaziun Jr. was one of the most famous of the American paperweight artists. He is often credited with contributing to the rebirth of interest in paperweight making. He made paperweights from the 1940s until his death in 1992. His weights are usually signed with a gold K or a special millefiori cane containing a K. You can read about him in many books, including: Signature: Signed on the white underside of the red ground with Kaziun's gold K. Condition: Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$245 postage paid in the US. New Price 6/25/2021 For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4721 | Charles Kaziun Jr. Miniature Tilted
Pedestal Light Blue Spider Lily Paperweight with Aventurine
Ground. circa 1960-1980. This is a miniature
pedestal paperweight with a light blue spider lily and four green
leaves on an opaque aventurine ground. The flower has a red
stripe on each petal and the center is a complex millefiori cane
made up of seven star shaped millefiori canes (three blue, three
yellow, and a slightly orange center). Each leaf is a double
leaf - two leaves with a clear layer joining them so a bit of the
ground shows through. This makes it look like each leaf has an
aventurine stripe down the center. The aventurine ground is
set on a brown base and a white under-layer. The paperweight
is tilted at a 45 degree angle so it displays beautifully.
Signed on the white underside of the ground with a gold K.
This design was Charles Kaziun's signature design and one of the most popular with collectors. This size and style was often referred to as a #1. Charles Kaziun Jr. was one of the most famous of the American paperweight artists. He is often credited with contributing to the rebirth of interest in paperweight making. He made paperweights from the 1940s until his death in 1992. His weights are usually signed with a gold K or a special millefiori cane containing a K. You can read about him in many books, including: Signature: Signed on the white underside of the aventurine ground with Kaziun's gold K. Condition: Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$245 postage paid in the US. New Price 6/25/2021 For more paperweights by Charles Kaziun, see my Kaziun Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2276 | Vintage American "FROM A FRIEND" Frit
Paperweight - Probably Made by Gentile Glass. circa
1900-1974. This frit paperweight features a "FROM A FRIEND"
message in white frit with an outer wreath garland. The design
is placed over a multi-colored ground of larger glass chips. A
great gift item to raise a friend's spirits. This example in
unsigned but I suspect it was made at Gentile Glass in Star City,
West Virginia based on the shape and bottom finish. An
identical example of the paperweight and the die used to produce the
design are shown in American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers
(1970) by Jean Melvin (see pages 69 - 71). This is a
great addition to any collection of American paperweights. The Melvin book mentions that the motto weights like the "FROM A FRIEND" paperweight were popular items sold to distributors and gift shops throughout the US and Canada. The dies were originally used by Peter Gentile when he worked at the Fry Factory in Rochester, NY and continued to be used by the Gentile factory once they started their own factory. This style of paperweight was made by many glass companies throughout the glass producing areas of the midwestern US (Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, or even New Jersey) in the first half of the 20th century and later. Frit refers to the powdered glass used to make the design. The design is set up in a metal die and then picked up with a gather of a ground color. Sometimes the maker can be identified by researching the mold or die used to set up the design. According to Newell's Old Glass Paperweights of Southern New Jersey , frit weights were made as early as 1863. Newell identifies this style as a true folk art. The original glass worker in the Gentile
family was Peter Gentile, born in Naples, Italy in
1884. He worked in Naples(Italy), Rochester
(Pennsylvania), and Morgantown (West Virginia) before building
his own factory in Star City (West Virginia) in 1947.
Originally the factory was a short-lived partnership (G. and F.
Glass Co.) with John Funfrock, a mold maker. His sons,
Frankie, John and Joe Gentile helped him make paperweights in
the off hours at the Guild Factory in Morgantown. However,
most paperweight production since WWII has been associated with
Peter, John, or John's wife Gertrude Gentile. Few weights
were signed prior to 1963. John Gentile passed away in
2006 and it is believed that Gentile Glass closed down after his
death. Most, if not all, paperweights produced from 1975
on were signed. For more information, you can read about
the Gentile Family in the book American Glass Paperweights
and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970). Large Size: 3 5/16" diameter by 2 3/4" high.
The base is fire finished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 6/24/2021 For more information about Gentile paperweights, see my Gentile Paperweights Web Page. (dl-g-va) Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1377 | Baccarat 1988 Four Row Open Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight. dated 1988. This
paperweight has an open concentric design with four rows of colorful
millefiori around a central millefiori cane. The design is
placed over a clear ground. It is signed with an etched
Baccarat logo on the base. It also has a Baccarat "B1988"
signature / date cane in the outermost row. A fantastic
example of a modern open concentric from Baccarat. Baccarat was founded in 1776 in Alsace-Lorraine with the name of Verrerie de Sainte Anne. The original location was near the town of Baccarat. Today the firm is known as Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat. Most collectors refer to three periods of Baccarat paperweight production.
Baccarat started making modern millefiori paperweights in 1957. According to Paul Dunlop ( Baccarat Paperweights: Two Centuries of Beauty ), Baccarat started making the modern spaced millefiori paperweights on muslin or lace in 1958 and continued making undated examples until the limited editions were started in 1970. The exception is 1964 when special versions were produced for Baccarat's 200th anniversary. Size: 2 11/16 diameter by 2 1/16 high. The
base is polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$285 postage paid in the US. Added 6/19/2021 For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5250 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1975E
Limited Edition Green Overlay Millefiori Paperweight Bottle with
Original Box. This is a tall bottle with a green flash
overlay and a three ring concentric millefiori pattern base.
The concentric millefiori pattern consists of all complex millefiori
canes. There is a center complex cane that matches the single
millefiori cane in the stopper. The bottle has 24 side facets
arranged in three rows. The stopper has a matching green flash
overlay with eight side facets arranged in two rows. The
stopper has a single complex millefiori cane which matches the
center cane in the base. This bottle is signed with a
Perthshire "P1975" signature / date cane in the base. It also
has a Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF
SCOTLAND" on the base and comes with its original fitted satin lined
box. This design was made with a green or blue overlay and
offered in a limited edition of 350 bottles of which 347 were
made. I do not have the original certificate. This is a
great addition to any collection of paperweight related items. Perthshire made this paperweight bottle as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1975. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were five Annual Collection designs in 1975, designated A through E. This design is designated 1975E. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Large size: Just under 3 1/8" diameter by just under
7 1/2" high with the stopper. The bottle is 5 3/4" tall
without the stopper. The stopper is 1 9/16" diameter by 2
5/8" long. The base is ground concave in the center.
The bottle has 24 side facets and the stopper has eight side
facets. The box is 8" long by just under 5 1/2" wide by 3
7/8" tall. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 6/15/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 345 | Colorful Surface Decorated Hollow
Paperweight - Unknown Maker. This surface
decorated paperweight is hollow blown rather than solid. The
colorful decorations are tactile and can be felt on the
surface. There is a hole in the base left over from the
blowing process. Signed KO on the base but the maker is
unknown. A fun paperweight. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Size: Just over 2 7/8" diameter by just over 2"
high. The base has been polished concave. The surface
is a little irregular There is a hole in the base left from the
blowing process. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$44 postage paid in the US. Added 6/13/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 778 | Miniature Art Glass Carpet Ground
Millefiori Paperweight - Unknown Maker. This art
glass miniature millefiori paperweight consists of identical red,
white, and pink cogged millefiori, although it looks like there may
be some filler pieces added to complete the carpet. The maker
is unknown. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Very small size: 2" diameter by 1 1/4" high.
The base has been polished flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 6/12/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1749 | Small Degenhart Name Paperweight Knob -
probably from a Gearshift. circa 1930-40. This is
a Degenhart paperweight personalized with the owner's name
"M.A.Archuleta"written on a white plaque. It has the typical
Degenhart construction with the plaque outlined in blue and with
four little colored icepick flowers placed at the edge of the
plaque. This one has two red flowers and two yellow
flowers. There is a colorful frit layer at the same level as
the plaque. This paperweight has a glass stub on the base and
was most likely broken off from the metal fitting of a Degenhart
gearshift. It has sufficient wear / scratches to indicate that
it was actually used as a gearshift knob. Charles and John Degenhart patented the design for a glass gearshift knob on August 20, 1929. The glass paperweight would be mounted on a threaded metal fitting. Some examples have the patent date on the fitting "PAT. 8-20-29" on the side of the metal fitting. Knobs with a location are rarer than those with just a name. Note: The glass in this paperweight is clear but it shows a pink tint in the pictures. Maybe the glass is sensitive to the type of lighting used, similar to the way Alexandrite or Neodymium Glass change color, but the behavior is different. Probably it is picking up the pink in the frit layer. Charles and John Degenhart started
their careers in glass working in glass at the Dalzell, Gilmore
& Leighton Company factory in Findlay, Ohio. Charles,
born in 1882, started first and then John, born in 1884, started
at the age of ten in 1894. In 1901, both joined Cambridge
Glass in Cambridge, Ohio. The original paperweight
production was an after hours activity at Cambridge Glass by
Charles and his two sons in the 1920s. John also produced
paperweights to help meet the demand. This was with the
approval of the company. Of the two, Charles Degenhart was the
more skilled artistically. Size: 2" diameter by 1 1/2" high. The base
has a glass stub. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the
following links: Large
picture $45 postage paid in the US. Added 6/11/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Degenhart Glass in Cambridge, Ohio, see my Degenhart Web Page
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| 3437 | Large Colorful Strathearn Paneled
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1963-1968. This very
attractive paperweight consists of a paneled millefiori pattern with
nine panels of 1 (white) + 2 (yellow) + 2 (pink) millefiori patterns
each separated by a white latticinio twist cane. There is a
central ring of seven dark green millefiori canes and then a
center orange millefiori cane. The canes are early Scottish
millefiori canes on a translucent blue ground. This is a great
addition to any collection of Scottish paperweights. Great
color. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. The company is no longer in existence. Size: 3 1/16 diameter by 2 5/16 high.
The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 5/29/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2850 | Unsigned Miniature Lampwork Flower
Paperweight, possibly by Ronald Hansen.
undated. This miniature paperweight features a six petal
lampwork flower with leaves and stem. The petals are yellow
with orange stripes. There are five variegated sepals and plus
two leaves and a stem. It has a low profile. Nicely
executed, it has an unusual amber ground placed over a white button
base (see picture of the base). Definitely the work of a
talented artist. Possibly by Ronald Hansen. Note: The maker of paperweight is unknown, but it is possibly by Ronald Hansen who made paperweights from the late 1950s to 1971. Ronald E. Hansen was born in Virginia, Minnesota in 1910. He was first exposed to glass lampwork as a child when he was befriended by Bohemian glassworkers in a "hobo village" making glass ships. He later worked as the director of the Neon Tube School in Detroit, Michigan. With this exposure, he was aware of the artistic and technical aspects of glassworking. He established his own studio in Mackinaw City, Michigan, mixed his own colors and glass, and created a variety of small glass paperweights, most of which are 2 1/2" or less in diameter. He made paperweights from the late 1950s to 1971. He was one of a number of glass artists in this paperweight making family. His nephew, Eric Hansen, continues the art today. You can read more about Ronald E. Hansen in the book American Glass Paperweights and their makers by Jean Melvin (1970 Revised edition) or the article by Nancy Alfano in the 2004 PCA Bulletin. Very small size: Low profile, 1 15/16" diameter by just over 1" high. The base is ground flat with a frosted finish.Signature: Unsigned. I believe this paperweight was made by Ronald Hansen, but have been unable to confirm this ID. Condition: Very good condition with a few faint scratches or scuffed areas. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 5/17/2021 For more vintage American paperweights, see my Vintage American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4382 | Robert Banford Blue Double Clematis
with Buds Double Overlay Faceted Paperweight with Fancy Base
Cutting. circa 1987. This paperweight
features a wonderful dark blue double clematis with a yellow center
and two companion buds, one open and the other still closed.
It is has many green leaves and a stem. The design is set on a
clear ground and encased with a brilliant red and white double
overlay. It is faceted with a large top facet and six side
facets. In addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower
portion below the facets. The paperweight is signed with Bob
Banfords B signature cane at the tip of the stem. I believe
this is part of Bob Banford's 1987 Collection and the cutting is by
Ed Poore. A very desirable addition to any collection of
contemporary American paperweights.
Note on condition: There is a 1/8" nick or tool mark just above the fancy cutting. It is barely visible, but I mention this for completeness and provide a much magnified picture. No other flaws found on inspection. Robert Banford worked in Hammonton, NJ. He started making paperweights in 1971 along with his father, Ray Banford. Bob continued to make paperweights until 2006. Bob and Ray did not date their paperweights, but it is sometimes possible to get an idea of when a paperweight was made by the progression of styles and the type of glass used. Bob Banford used a signature cane with a red "B" and a blue surround. Ray Banford used a different signature cane with a black B. Ray passed away in 2003.
Size: 2 15/16" diameter by just over 2 1/8"
high. The bottom is ground slightly concave. It is
faceted with a large top facet and six side facets. In
addition there is a fancy cutting on the lower portion below the
facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$950 postage paid in the US. US Sales only, no international shipping. 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. |
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| 3794 | Colorful Magnum Rollin Karg Three Sided
Paperweight. circa 1983 to 2000. This is an
interesting three sided sculptural paperweight with inner
folds. Primarily blue, most of the surface has colored spots
of pinks, reds, and browns. One side has an area that is
dichroic. It is signed "KARG" on the side near the base. Extra
large. A fun paperweight.
Rollin Karg spent the first part of his career as an industrial engineer, photographer, potter and woodworker before becoming a full time glass artist in 1983. He studied hot glass at Emporia State University (Kansas) and built his first glassblowing furnace there. Today he owns a studio and gallery in Kechi, Kansas. Very large size: Three sided shape. 3 1/2" at
the widest by 2 13/16" tall. The base is ground flat.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$79 postage paid in the US. Added 4/21/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4040 | Large Strathearn Eight Pointed Star
Paneled Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Orange Ground.
circa 1963-1968. This paperweight is finished as a eight
pointed star. The star points give the glass a glittery
appearance. It features a paneled millefiori design with seven
panels of 1+1+2 millefiori patterns each separated by a white
latticinio twist cane. There is a central ring of six
millefiori canes and then a center millefiori cane. The canes
are early Scottish millefiori canes on an opaque orange
ground. A great addition to any collection of Scottish
glass. This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape. The top is flattened. The star points give the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Size: 2 3/4 diameter by 1 3/16 high.
The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 4/19/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4039 | Joe Rice Magnum Multicolored Ribbon Crimp
Paperweight. circa 1987-2010. Multi-colored
stylized crimp flower in the unique St. Clair style. I refer
to this style as a rainbow ribbon crimp weight. It has has
eight pleats or crimps with a carefully placed bubble between
each. The design is off center in the paperweight. A
showy paperweight with great color. Very collectible. Similar examples are shown American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970) and the St. Clair Collectors Guide by Bonnie Pruitt. They were made by members of the St. Clair family and also by Joe Rice. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair. Joe Rice,a third generation
glassblower in the St. Clair family, is the grandson of John "Pop"
St. Clair, Sr. and nephew of a nephew of Joe St.
Clair and the other brothers mentioned above. His mother
Jane Rice was Joe St. Clair's sister. Joe Rice began
working at the family glass factory in 1962 at the age of
twelve. He worked with his uncles Joe, Ed, Bob, and Paul
after school hours and during the summer months. When the
estate of Bob St. Clair was ready for public auction in October
1987, Joe Rice was able to purchase the property along with
needed supplies and equipment. He reopened the factory as
the The House of Glass. His uncles Ed and Paul were there
to help guide him along his path to success. The House of
Glass continues to operate in Elwood, Indiana. Very large size: Just under 3 7/8" diameter by 2
3/8" high. The bottom is fire finished and hot stamped with
the signature. The paperweight weighs 29 ounces. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 4/18/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair family, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4038 | Colorful Murano Figural Bird Paperweight -
Made From Twist Canes. circa 1960s - 1970s.
This paperweight is a good example of a Murano figural
paperweight. The bird is formed from seven colored twist canes
and seven alternating white latticinio twist canes with eyes and
beak added. The pink, green, blue, and yellow colored twist
canes have aventurine edges. Bright and colorful. A fun
paperweight. Note: Although this paperweight is beautifully made, there is some debris in the glass and there is some roughness at the end of the tail feathers - left by the tools used to snip the glass. This paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s. Size: Just under 3" long (beak to tail) by
diameter by 1 3/4" wide. The small base is polished
flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. Added 4/17/2021 For more information about Murano paperweights, see my Murano Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4623 | Perthshire Annual Collection 1979C
Limited Edition Miniature Overlay Paperweight. This
paperweight features an upright six petaled red flower and leaves
within a double overlay of blue over white. It has one top
facet and eight side facets. The flower is very three
dimensional and should be viewed from the side. The base is
finished with a grid cut. It is signed with a complex "P"
signature cane in the center of the flower. This design is a
limited edition of 400 paperweights, of which only 351 were
made. Although Perthshire called this a miniature, it is
actually larger with a diameter of just under 2 5/16". There
is no paper label on this example. A nice crisp design with
great color. Note on condition: This paperweight has a 1/4" scratch on the overlay between two side facets below the widest point. I am offering it at a greatly reduced price. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their Annual Collection designs for 1979. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were seven Annual Collection designs in 1979, designated A through G. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production. Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. There are three books on Perthshire Paperweights. If you collect Perthshire paperweights, you should have them in your library. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey. In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Size: Just under 2 5/16" diameter by just over 1
9/16" high. The base is ground concave and finished with a
grid cut. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$195 postage paid in the US. Added 4/16/2021 For more information about Perthshire Paperweights, see my Perthshire Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4022 | Large Blue Iridescent Abstract Paperweight
with Gecko Pontil Stamp by Unknown Maker. dated
1999. This is a large mystery abstract iridescent blue
paperweight made by an unknown maker. The signature is legible
with the date 99 but I have not been able to identify the
maker. The pontil stamp is a long tailed lizard or gecko or
something similar. Not much I can say about the design - it is
a blue abstract blob. A mystery for future study. The maker of this paperweight is unknown. Large Size: 2 7/8" diameter by 2 13/16" high.
The base is fire finished with a pontil stamp. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$49 postage paid in the US. Added 4/14/2021 For more information about paperweights by unknown makers, see my Unknown Makers Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4032 | Colorful Guernsey Island Studio
Paperweight with Silverplate Base by Sileda Ltd. dated
1986. This colorful glass paperweight was most likely
made by the Guernsey Island Studio (also known as Guernsey
Glass). The Sheffield silverplate base was added by Sileda
Ltd. (Wales) and has the silver marks indicating Sileda was the
maker of the base and it was made in 1986. There are several
discussions on the Internet about this type of paperweight and I was
able garner the basic facts about the makers and the date (see
below). The silver plate has been lost some of its silver
layer and the underlying copper is visible. There is a felt
cover in the center base. I did not remove the felt to see if
there was a Guernsey mark on the glass. This is an odd item,
but it will make a good conversation piece. Guernsey Island Studio (also known as Guernsey Glass) was located at the Oatlands Craft Centre, St Sampson, Guernsey, Channel Islands. It was founded about 1980 with advice and assistance from Michael Harris of the Isle of Wight Studio Glass. They made small souvenir pieces, such as vases, animal figures, and paperweights and often marked them on the base with the trademark Guernsey mark, which was three lions passant on a shield. They closed sometime in the 1990s. Sileda Ltd was founded in Cefn-y-bedd Wales UK about 1980. They were a small silver company that registered their punches at the Sheffield Assay Office from 1980 to 2000. The makers mark is "SL" with a small indent between the two letters. In addition to any other silver work they may have done, they were known for sourcing (purchasing) glass objects such as paperweights and vases from UK glass studios and adding silver enhancements or decorations to the glass objects. For paperweights, the enhancement was a silverplate base, for vases it was often a silver collar. In many cases, collectors could identify the original source of the glass object. Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 15/16" high. The
base is covered with a silverplate covering and a felt cover in
the center. I did not remove the felt to see if the Guernsey
mark is under the felt. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$65 postage paid in the US. Added 4/3/2021 For more information about paperweights by English makers, see my English Paperweights Web Page . Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4034 | Medium Colorful Strathearn Close Packed
Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1963-1968. This is a
very attractive and colorful Strathearn close packed millefiori
paperweight. The design is placed over an opaque pink- beige
ground. A nice addition to any collection of Scottish
paperweights. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. The company is no longer in existence. Medium size: Just over 2 3/8 diameter by 2
1/16 high. The base is fire polished and ground concave in
the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$89 postage paid in the US. Added 3/27/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4031 | Large Maude and Bob 1976 Blue Icepick
Flower Candle Holder Paperweight. dated
1976. This large candle holder paperweight features five light
blue icepick flowers over an dark blue ground. As is typical
of the St. Clair style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the
center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the
ground in between each flower. There is a ribbed handle on one
side. It is hot stamped on the base "MAUDE AND BOB ST CLAIR
1976". Maude and Bob St. Clair produced paperweights under
their own label for less than fifteen years. A great addition
to any collection of St. Clair items. This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the icepick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. Note: In the pictures, the handle shows a yellow color. This is a reflection from something in my work area. The handle of the candle holder is clear colorless glass. The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood. Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice. Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories. Bob St. Clair died in 1986. Joe St. Clair died in 1987. Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother, Paul St. Clair died in 2000. Robert (Bob) St. Clair was born May 18, 1919 and passed away in 1986. He is known to have used two signatures from 1971 to 1986. Most of the time he included his wife and used the stamp "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR", often with a date with raised lettering. Less frequently, he used the stamp "BOB ST. CLAIR" with no date. This stamp, with only BOB, can be found with either raised or indented lettering.
Size: The center paperweight portion is just under
3" diameter. With the handle and the cup for the candle it
is 4 1/16" wide by just under 3" deep by 3 1/16" high. The
base is finished flat and hot stamped in the center with the
signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 3/26/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4746 | Chris Sherwin Art Glass Black-Capped
Chickadee Paperweight. dated 2017. This
black-capped chickadee paperweight is a wonderful example of Chris
Sherwin's recent work. The figural paperweight was created for
a meeting of the Founders Chapter of the National American Glass
Club. It is signed on the base "Sherwin Art Glass 2017". The black-capped chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts and of Maine in the United States, and the provincial bird of New Brunswick in Canada. Chris Sherwin has worked in glass for 25 years, specializing in designs inspired by nature. Almost all of his work involves some aspect of torchwork decoration applied to the surface or encased torchwork creations. He makes his own glass and canes in his environmentally conscious hydro-powered studio. Chris studied glassblowing at Southern Connecticut State University and apprenticed at Simon Pearce. He also spent seven years at Orient & Flume Art Glass, an internationally renowned glass studio in Chico, CA known for their iridescent vases, intricate paperweights, and torchwork designs. At O&F he was able to create designs of his own and collaborative pieces that earned him a separate section in the O&F retail showroom. He opened his own studio in Bellows Falls, VT in 2005 and makes a variety of paperweights, vessels, animal sculptures, seasonal themed and other objects. Size: 3 7/8" long by 1 7/8" wide by just under 3
1/16" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$85 postage paid in the US. Added 3/24/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 1851 | Rare Large Vasart or Strathearn Paneled
Millefiori Paperweight Pin Dish. circa 1946-1969.
This pin dish features a paneled millefiori design with seven panels
with a 1-2 cane pattern separated by colored twists over an orange
ground. There is a ring of pink canes with blue centers in the
center of the design. The dish is heavy with thick walls and a
depressed center. An interesting historical addition to any
collection of Scottish paperweights, Ysart glass or millefiori
collectibles.
Items like this were made by the many of the Scottish paperweight companies (Ysart Brothers, Vasart Glass, Strathearn Glass, or even Perthshire Paperweights). Some of the products made by Vasart were also sold with a Pirelli label. It is important to note that most pin dishes started off as a paperweight. The maker found a defect or problem and rather than stop, turned it into a pin dish. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Large Size: 3 7/8 diameter by 1 5/8 high.
The center well is 2 13/16" diameter. The base is fire
polished and the pontil mark is ground down. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 3/20/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5185 |
Large Joe St. Clair Icepick Flower Teapot Ring Holder Paperweight. circa 1960 - 1980. This teapot shaped figural paperweight is intended for use as a ring holder and is a very popular design. It has five light blue icepick flowers over a white chipped glass ground. As is typical of this style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each pair of flowers. It is hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom. A very flashy figural paperweight. This style of flower is called an icepick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem.
The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938. Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own. Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana. John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first. By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through the Georg Jensen Shop on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana. Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe. For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair. Size: 4 7/8" wide by 4" high. The center
paperweight portion is 2 1/2" in diameter. The bottom is finished
flat and hot stamped in the center with the signature. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 2/24/2021 For more information about paperweights made by the St. Clair factory, see my St. Clair Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 842 | Magnum 1930s Chinese Scrambled Millefiori
Paperweight. circa 1930. This is an extra large
example of a 1930s scrambled millefiori paperweight from China
filled with a nice assortment of millefiori canes and twist
canes. This style was intended to be a copy of a French
scramble or end of day weight from 1845-1860 (probably St. Louis or
Clichy), but it will not fool today's collectors. This example
is scratch signed "CHINA" on the base. As
with most Chinese paperweights of this period, this paperweight
has a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a
greenish tinge. The glass has a soft oily feel and there are many light scratches and scuff
marks. There are also striations (sugaring) in the
glass. An unusually large example worthy of any collection
of Chinese paperweights. Chinese Paperweights were made in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s as an attempt to duplicate 19th Century antique weights made in the United States and France. Because they are almost 100 years old, they are very collectible and every collector should own a few of these as study pieces. The history of the early Chinese paperweights is mostly anecdotal as no written records have been discovered. The story is that an American dealer sent examples of paperweights made by the New England Glass Company (NEGC), Boston & Sandwich Glass Company (B&S), Millville makers, and French factories to a Chinese factory and requested copies be made. The results are interesting and sometimes confused with the originals by inexperienced collectors. The earliest pictures of these paperweights appeared in the book American Glass Paperweights by Francis Edgar Smith published in 1939. Smith was aware that at least one of the paperweights shown in his book was Chinese. Since Smith was not an expert collector, this indicates that there was some general knowledge that these were Chinese prior to 1939. In the United States, the Tariff Act of 1930 required that every imported item must be conspicuously and indelibly marked in English with its country of origin. As a result, many of these Chinese paperweights are scratch signed on the bottom "CHINA". Many are also not signed, suggesting that either they were imported prior to 1930 or the importer ignored the requirement. Most likely the earliest Chinese paperweights were made prior to 1930. The Chinese makers often combined design features found in paperweights from different makers. For example they copied the latticinio grounds used by New England Glass Company and used them with copies of Baccarat Pansy weights. The original Baccarat pansy paperweights never had a latticinio ground. They copied the pedestal rose from Millville and then used the pedestal bottom with other weights. It is fun to collect all the variations. In general, Chinese paperweights from the 1930s have a light weight glass mixture that is high in soda and has a greenish tinge. The glass also has a soft almost oily feel. Frequently they have bubbles or debris in the glass. And because of their age, many of these have minor scratches or other surface defects. Chinese paperweights made in the 1970s and later usually have better quality glass and are free of debris.
Very large size: Just under 3 7/16 diameter
by 2 7/16" high. The base is rough, fire finished, and
ground concave in the center. A remnant of the pontil scar
remains in the center. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$125 postage paid in the US. Added 2/23/2021 For more information about paperweights from China, see my Chinese Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4026 | Miniature Strathearn Eight Pointed Star
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight with Opaque Lime Green Ground.
circa 1963-1968. This miniature paperweight features a three
ring concentric millefiori design and is finished as a eight pointed
star. The ground is an opaque lime green. The star
points give the glass a glittery appearance. This paperweight
has a worn Strathearn paper label with a leaping salmon and
"STRATHEARN HAND MADE IN SCOTLAND" on the base. A great
addition to any collection of Scottish glass. This is called a pressed weight because a mold is used to form the shape. The top is flattened. The star points give the glass a real glittery appearance as you can see in the pictures. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass. Strathearn Glass was formed in a reorganization of Vasart glass in 1963. The new company was owned by Teachers Whiskey. Miniature size: 2 1/16 diameter by 1 1/8
high. The base is fire polished. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$59 postage paid in the US. Added 2/22/2020 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 2836 | Selkirk 1996 Stylized Blue Flower
Paperweight. dated 1996. This paperweight has an
stylized or abstract blue floral design with five trumpet shaped
petals and a green center. Each of the trumpet shapes has an
elongated bubble in the center. The design is placed over a
translucent blue ground. It is signed in script on the base
"SELKIRK GLASS SCOTLAND 1996". It also has a worn paper label
"SELKIRK GLASS HANDMADE IN SCOTLAND". A colorful example
from Selkirk Glass. Selkirk Glass founded in 1977 by Peter Holmes and Ron Hutchinson. Peter apprenticed under Paul Ysart at Caithness from 1963 and continued at Caithness until 1977. Ron Hutchinson was also at Caithness. Selkirk produced a wide range of paperweight styles including abstract, lampwork and millefiori paperweights. The company was located in Selkirk, Scotland in the Borders Region. At some point they were purchased by Edinburgh Crystal and remained in operation until 2006. . Peter Holmes started his glass working career at Caithness Glass (Scotland) in 1963 as an apprentice to Paul Ysart. He continued at Caithness until 1977, when he and Ron Hutchinson left Caithness to start Selkirk Glass. Peter left Selkirk in 2002 to start Scottish Borders Art Glass with his son, Andrew, at Galalaw, Hawick. Large size: 2 13/16" diameter by 2 5/8" high. The
bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$95 postage paid in the US. Added 2/18/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5265 | Francis Whittemore Miniature Yellow Pears
with Leaves and Seed Pod Paperweight. circa 1971 -
1980. This paperweight features two yellow pears along with
three green leaves, and a seed pod. It is signed in the design
with a fancy Whittemore "W" compound signature cane. The
signature cane is a white "W" on a blue background surrounded by a
ring of white stars. The design is placed on a translucent
green ground. Whittemore revisited this theme several times
during his career as a paperweight maker. A beautiful example. Note: This was a difficult paperweight to photograph. The highly reflective surface even picked up a reflection of my hand and my camera. If you need more pictures please let me know. Francis Dyer Whittemore, Jr. is considered one of the pioneers of the modern paperweight renaissance. He started working in glass in 1938, but did not start making paperweights until 1962. His studio was in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Like many other early glass artists, Francis started his career as a scientific glass blower and then later taught glass as an instructor. For five years, he spent one month a year consulting at Baccarat to help them refine their lampwork paperweight art. Some sources have this consulting work from 1971 to 1976. Other sources have it starting later. The signature cane used on this paperweight was one he developed during the period that he was consulting at Baccarat. Most of his paperweights are miniature to medium in size. You can read about Francis Whittemore in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970). Miniature size: Just under 2 1/16" diameter
by 1 11/16" high. The bottom is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$375 postage paid in the US. Added 2/14/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight
makers, see my Contemporary
American Paperweights Web Page. (dl-ca-va) |
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| 2843 | Edinburgh Crystal Caithness 1986 Double
Trefoil "Ring of Roses"Millefiori Paperweight. circa
1986. This is a rare example made by Caithness Glass for
Edinburgh Crystal. It features a double trefoil design titled
"Ring of Roses" with green and pink millefiori and an Edinburgh "E"
signature cane in the center. The design is placed over a dark
purple almost opaque ground. Note: Most Edinburgh paperweights were also signed with an acid etch or sandblasted signature - this example is not. It is possible that this is an early prototype or even a second. The Ring of Roses design is shown in the 1986 Edinburgh Crystal Paperweights catalog as an unlimited issue paperweight. The 1986 catalog showed eight unlimited designs and twelve limited edition paperweights. Edinburgh Crystal originated as a glassworks in Scotland at Leith in 1664. The company had a long history as a glassworks, merging with and acquiring other companies, eventually becoming part of Webb Glass after World War I, although they retained the name Edinburgh and Leith Glassworks until 1955. In 1955, the name was changed to Edinburgh Crystal Glass Co. Edinburgh never made glass paperweights. Paperweights were made for Edinburgh by Caithness Glass in 1985 and 1986. Later production appears to have been outsourced to other countries. In 2004 Edinburgh Crystal purchased Caithness Glass out of receivership. Finances did not work out and Edinburgh ceased to exist in 2006 with Dartington Crystal acquiring some of the remaining assets. Caithness Glass was founded by Robin Sinclair in Wick in north eastern Scotland in 1961. The factory did not start making paperweights until 1962 when Paul Ysart joined Caithness. Colin Terris joined Caithness in 1968 and started the modern line of paperweights in 1969. A second factory was opened in Oban in 1969 and the Perth factory opened in 1979. In 1980, Caithness purchased the Whitefriars name and designs. More recently Caithness recently went through a number of changes of ownership. After going into receivership in 2004, it was purchased by Edinburgh Crystal, but went into receivership again in 2006. Finally, it was bought out of receivership by Dartington Crystal. The factories in Wick, Oban and Perth all closed and were replaced by a smaller operation and visitors' center in Crieff. Large Size: 2 7/8" diameter by just under 2 3/16"
high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$75 postage paid in the US. Added 2/7/2021 For more information about paperweights made by Scottish makers, see my Scottish Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4856 | Baccarat 1976 Gridel Series Magnum
Millefiori White Monkey Limited Edition Paperweight. dated
1976. This modern millefiori paperweight features a large
central Gridel white monkey silhouette on a black background
surrounded by a ring of white canes. The white monkey cane is
set in the center of a paneled pattern with six panels of blue and
green millefiori and surrounded by a ring of identical green
canes. The panels are divided by rays of smaller Gridel canes
plus Baccarat's complex signature / date cane "B 1976". Each
ray contains three Gridel canes, with the exception of one ray which
contains two Gridel canes plus the signature / date cane. The
design is set on a translucent white ground. This design was
released in 1976 in a limited edition of 350 pieces. This is
number 186 in that edition. This paperweight is also signed on
the base with an acid etched Baccarat mark along with the year
(1976) and edition number (186). A fantastic
paperweight. In 1846 Baccarat introduced the popular Gridel figures in their closepack millefiori paperweights. It was named after Emil Gridel, the nephew of Jean-Baptiste Toussaint the general manager of Baccarat. Toussaint saw Gridel making paper cutouts of animals and saw an opportunity to incorporate these silhouettes in millefiori paperweights. From 1971 to 1979 Baccarat issued a modern Gridel series of millefiori paperweights based on eighteen Gridel figures. Each paperweight has a large Gridel figure in the center with smaller versions of the other figures included in the design. There are variations in orientation and color as well as the types of canes in each design and it is possible to amass a very large collection covering just this series. Very Large Size: Just under 3 7/16" diameter by
just under 2 5/16" high. The base is ground flat. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 1/30/2021. For more information about Baccarat paperweights, see my Baccarat Paperweights Web Page Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5383 | Rare Harold J. Hacker Snake
Paperweight. circa 1966 - 1980. This
wonderful Harold Hacker lampwork snake paperweight. The long
brown snake with two white eyes and a long slender tongue has a
yellow stripe down its back. It blends perfectly with the
copper colored frit ground. It is engraved "HJH" on the
base. A very similar example is shown on page 172 of Melvin's
book American Glass Paperweights and their Makers (Revised
1970). A desirable example of Hacker's work. Harold James Hacker (1906 - 1989)
was born in Weston, West Virginia and, at the age of thirteen,
took a job at the Weston Glass Plant. Later he worked at
the West Virginia Specialty Glass Company and learned some of
the rudiments of blowing glass. In 1936 he moved to
California and worked at the Technical Glass Company in Los
Angeles. After service in the armed services during world
war II, he obtained a concession at the Knott's Berry Farm
making miniature glass objects, built on a hobby of lampworking
that started back in West Virginia. In 1966 Hacker and a
friend from West Virginia, A. F. Carpenter, started
experimenting with glass paperweights at a small studio near
Hacker's home in Buena Park, CA. In the beginning they
made more traditional lampwork floral arrangements and
millefiori paperweights, but then focused on lampwork snakes,
reptiles, turtles, and other animals. Their output was low
and, even with two helpers, never exceeded 200 paperweights a
year. All were signed with variations of Hacker's
signature, "Hacker", "Harold Hacker", "Harold J Hacker", or just
the initials "HJH". It is not possible to specifically
identify which lampwork animals were made by A. F. Carpenter,
but it is believed that Carpenter was the better lampwork artist
and Hacker did some of the simpler designs. Hacker also
did the encasement. Their work was considered good enough
to earn an entry in Dunlop's Dictionary of Glass
Paperweights. Both men are included in Jean Melvin's
book American Glass Paperweights and their Makers (revised
edition 1970) and Hacker has a page in Larry Selman's
All About Paperweights. Harold Hacker wrote
an article "The Art of Paperweights" for the 1968 Annual
Bulletin of the Paperweight Collectors' Association. Size: 2 3/4" diameter by 1 1/16" high. The
base is ground flat. Note the low profile. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$165 postage paid in the US. Added 1/22/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 600 | Early Mark Matthews 1981 Experimental
Spiral Paperweight. dated 1981. This is an early
Mark Matthews Translucent Swirl Paperweight. It features a
precise gold swirl applied to a dark brown or dark red
surface. It was made in 1981 before Mark started his studio in
1985, so it may have been made during his student days. I have
labeled this as an experimental piece because there are many surface
"flaws". These flaws don't appear to be damage but rather the
result of an unfinished or experimental process. Marble
collectors are familiar with this amazing artist but he made
relatively few paperweights. His focus is spheres and some of
them sell for thousands of dollars. This is a chance to own an
early Mark Matthews work. Mark Matthews started working in glass in 1974 while he was still an undergraduate at glorious Kent State University and continued his studies at Ohio University, receiving an MFA. Since 1985 he as worked full time in glass as an independent glass artist with his studio located within the Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio. Matthews has become internationally recognized for his mastery of the glass sphere. His stated goal is to explore the ways radically different designs and techniques can be used within a well-defined category such as spheres. Mark Matthews work has been published in many books and is held in museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio and the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Large Size: Just under 3 1/16" diameter by 2 7/16"
high. The base is unfinished with a broken pontil
scar. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$395 postage paid in the US. Added 1/17/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4646 | Magnum Victor Trabucco Pink Clematis
Paperweight with Buds on Trellis. dated 1983.
This Victor Trabucco paperweight consists of a large pink clematis
with two buds and leaves and stems on a white trellis. The
clematis flower has five textured petals with dark bushy stamens in
the center. One bud is about to open. There are ten
veined leaves. The design is set on a clear ground. It
is signed on the side near the base "Trabucco 1983". There is
also a "VT" signature cane on the underside of a leaf. A
beautiful paperweight.
Victor Trabucco's original career
was as a steelworker. He began working with glass in 1974
after seeing a flameworker make a sculpture. He knew this was
what he wanted to do for his life's work. Trabucco says that
Glass is the ultimate challenge; it has properties of no other
material and offers the artist possibilities that are inspiring
for the creative process. His work is often inspired by nature,
capturing the beauty and motion of the subject and freezing a
moment in time. His work is in the collection of many major
museums. Victor set up his first studio in the basement of
his house and learned by experimentation. He now works
with his sons Jon and David in a large studio in Clarence,
NY. Very Large Size: Just over 3 1/8" diameter by
2 1/2" high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$675 postage paid in the US. Added 1/5/2021 For more paperweights by contemporary American paperweight makers, see my Contemporary American Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 4566 | Large Whitefriars Early Faceted Six Ring
Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. dated 1970.
This paperweight has six concentric rings of canes (blue, white,
turquoise, dark blue, red, and white) around a larger center cane
with a star center. The ground is clear crystal. Typical
heavy Whitefriars lead crystal. The paperweight is faceted
with a large top facet and five large side facets. It has a
Whitefriars signature cane with a white monk and the date 1970 in
the outermost white ring and also has an early paper label used from
the mid 1950s into the early 1970s. With its bold colors, this
is a very nice addition to any collection of millefiori
paperweights. Modern Whitefriars paperweights are prized by collectors for their high quality glass and millefiori designs. The paperweights with mosaic canes are especially sought after. The name Whitefriars Glass dates from sometime in the 1600s. The original site had been occupied by a community of Carmelite monks known as White Friars, hence the name taken by the glass company. Some sources state that at least a portion of the company operated under the name of James Powell and Sons from 1834 to 1962. Other sources state that the Whitefriars name was used from 1680 to 1980. Limited production of millefiori paperweights and other millefiori items started some time in the 1930s and first appeared in the 1938 catalog. Millefiori items were made using English full lead crystal (33% lead oxide). It is difficult to associate specific paperweights with this production. After 1945, they made colored glass and bubble design paperweights until the modern millefiori production started about 1951. Even then relatively few designs were produced until the 1970s. In 1980, Whitefriars glass went out of business. After Whitefriars Glass was liquidated, Caithness Glass purchased the rights to the name and produced paperweights under the Whitefriars name for awhile. Large Size: Just over 3" diameter by 1 7/8"
high. The base is ground concave. Faceted with a total
of one large top facet and five large side facets. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$275 postage paid in the US. Added 1/4/2021 For more information about Whitefriars and other paperweights from England,see my English Paperweights Web Page. Click on the picture to see a larger image. |
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| 5102 | Large Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric
Millefiori Paperweight with 25 canes including a Green and Pink
Rose. circa 1845-1860. This wonderful antique
Clichy spaced millefiori paperweight contains an arrangement of 25
millefiori canes on lace ground. There are three rings with 12
canes in the outer ring, six in the middle ring and six in the inner
ring plus a wonderful large green and pink rose cane in the
center. The canes are intricate and very colorful. See
the close-up picture for more detail. A fantastic paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Large Size: Just over 3 1/16" diameter by 2 1/8"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$995 postage paid in the US. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large pictureSOLD. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 5283 | Antique Clichy Spaced Concentric
Millefiori on Lace Paperweight with Rose. circa
1845-1860. This antique Clichy spaced concentric millefiori
paperweight has a two concentric rings of complex millefiori around
a central red pastry mold cane. There is a wonderful large
green and pink Clichy rose in the inner ring. There are 19
canes in all, all placed on an upset muslin or lace ground.
The canes are intricate and very colorful. See the close-up
picture for more detail. A especially nice antique Clichy
paperweight.
Clichy paperweights are highly sought after by collectors for their complex canes and brilliant colors. Clichy paperweights with rose canes are especially desirable. The Clichy factory was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne, which gave the factory its best known name. They stayed in operation until about the 1870s. Small Size: 2 1/4" diameter by just over 1 5/8"
high. The base is ground slightly concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 3668 | Antique Bohemian Concentric Millefiori
Paperweight with Complex Canes. circa 1850-1900.
This is an antique Bohemian millefiori paperweight with some
interesting complex millefiori canes. The paperweight has
three concentric circles of canes around a complex center star
cane. The design consists almost entirely of complex canes,
with the exception of the red and white canes in the second
ring. In all a complex design built from a variety of canes
with many star canes. The design is well executed and it is in
perfect condition. The glass is slightly grey. This
paperweight has been professionally restored.
Bohemian Glass generally refers to the glass made in the regions that form the border area between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Most of these areas are now parts of the western Czech Republic. Size: Just over 2 1/4" diameter by 1 5/16"
high. The base is ground concave. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$295 postage paid in the US. 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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture $85 postage paid in the US.
Added 8/14/2020. For more information about paperweights from England, see my English Paperweights Web Page.
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| 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). For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture$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. |
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| 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 |
