Topic: rare st louis sulphide???

[cfosterk]

unadvertised local auction and a rare treat of a lot...

I think this item is antique french - there were two examples sold by Sothebys (NYHS sale 18 Jan 1995). It does have a red worm in its mouth....

views appreciated...

link attached

http://www.tennants.co.uk/Catalogue/Lots/24089.aspx

[cfosterk]

to save any confusion, the lot was six paperweights:

orient and flume lily
lundberg globe
paul ysart close-packed/cluster
murano-like snake on latticinio
strathearn spoke
and CARP SULPHIDE eating worm on red/white jasper ground.

Its this last weight that I'm trying to attribute!!

[alexander]

A droolworthy lot indeed 

Did the classic three make any other sulphides except silhouettes?

Being unable to see a side view or bottom it's hard to tell much.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Belgian or Bohemian.

[cfosterk]

The sulphide is superb quality. The weight has been re-polished at some point (just too pristine!!). Exact same sulphide as the two illustrated (see later).

Baccarat made a variety of sulphides other than portraits - I've seen a Joan of Arc; Hunter with dog; posy of pansies; but all seem to medallion-types.

One of the 'carp' sulphide illustrated in Paul Hollisters "Glass Paperweights of the NYHS" does have a garland of alterating canes. The illustation isnt great, nor is the illustration in the Sotheby's catalogue of the collection. My initial thoughts were the canes looked more Murano-like than St Louis....

The collection was acquired prior to 1965 so I guess it pre-dates this!! Other than this I'm stumped!!!

Belgium or stryia/Bohemia seem plausible....

[Kari]

There was an identical carp weight in an older LH Selman catalogue.  I seem to remember it being in a summer edition, one with a black and white checked cover.  It had a very impressive provenance.  Did you buy this lot?

[cfosterk]

I did buy the lot. Very pleased with the purchase, although the auction house correctly identified or flagged a "Paul Ysart style paperweight" in the lot - which clearly raised the eventual hammer price.

I'm really lucky as there are three decent auction houses within a 20 mile radius - always a chance to pick up a sleeper!!!

[Kari]

Very lucky!  Santa Fe is a paperweight wasteland, and now with Larry Selman leaving the business...