Topic: Paperweights - help with ID

[glasseyed]

Hi All

As the weather has been so horrible this weekend I thought I would review my weights and see which ones I was still unsure about. I have posted two weights in the web album below, if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate the help.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bridgesantiques/PaperweightsForID


Thanks

Hazel

[alexander]

I love the millefiori one, just my type 

I'm still very much a novice so I can only venture a guess - older British?
Maybe Bacchus or Whitefriars? 
Is it too colorful for Bacchus?

[tropdevin]

Hi - yes the millefiori one is an Old English weight.  It is a typical low domed Arculus weight.  Alan

[karelm]

My novice guess. Whitefriars for the first one and murano for the second.
Please put the pics in yobunny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EDIT:
....tropdev..you posted while I was typing...what makes it "typical low domed Arculus"?
I am always looking for some free education

[glasseyed]

Hi Alexander

Early English is my best guess too, but I'm not sure which factory I'm hoping that the base might be a clue for some of the more experianced paperweight collectors on the board. The other weight I bought at auction a couple of years ago (on a whim) and I really don' have a clue as to its origins.

Regards

Hazel

Thanks for the replies Karel and Alan

I considered both Whitefriars and Arculus but couldn't come up with a decision.

[KevinH]

... what makes it "typical low domed Arculus"?

A simple, and rather blunt, answer would be, "Because Alan says so!"  But it would be fair to say that Alan has done a fair bit of research into Old English weights, especially Aculus. There is good evidence, through several sources, and with enough examples, to show that certain items can now be be reasonably attributed to Arculus (although Walsh-Walsh may still be another option in many cases). For this weight, I would say that several points, when taken together, indicate a "typical low domed Arculus weight":
- The style of the low dome
- The way the canes are set (a bit wobbly in all rows)
- The use of differing canes in the rows whilst still retaining a general match in the colour scheme
- The way the canes are drawn underneath the base but do not meet at the centre

But perhaps Alan can be more specific?

For other thoughts on this subject, particularly regarding so-called anitque Whitefriars weights, please review these messages:
May Be Whitefriars
millefiori / ink scent bottle amended post now with pictures

[tropdevin]

Hi All

The identification comes in part from experience, and the research that I have done to which Kev H refers.  I have looked at over 150 OE weights in some detail.  What I will do is put a series of pictures of weights by various Old English manufacturers on my website www.pwts.co.uk , as an aid to identification. That will take a few days to do, though.

In the meantime, there is a useful book : 'Old English Paperweights' by Bob Hall.  It is on the first page of the paperweight subsection of this book list: http://astore.amazon.co.uk/collectorssite-21  That book has chapters on Arculus and Walsh Walsh, as well as Bacchus, Richardson and others.

Regards

Alan