Topic: Millefiori paperweight.. is it Clichy? Ans: Yes it is!

[jonchellycain]

Hi all just an update on the weight i have had a reply from Simon Cottle at Bonhams and this is what he said with regards to the weight
"It dates to about 1850 and appears to have been bruised in the past. I do not think that it has been restored though this may have occurred at some time in its life. Coloured ground examples are often popular and I would estimate your example between £600-800. We regularly sell paperweights through our Fine British and European Glass and Paperweight sales in London of which we hold two a year. The next sale will take place in December. Bonhams is the only international auction house to hold dedicated sales of glass and paperweights."
Which is fab news
many many thanks to all who have spent time researching this weight you are all superb  :kissy:
michelle

[Baked_Beans]

Thanks for the update . I didn't know Bonhams were the only major auction house regularly holding important paperweight auctions !   If it were my choice I would keep it  :clap: ! The Clichy ' factory' only operated from 1840-1870{when it was liquidated} (see Old Glass Paperweights by Evangeline H. Bergstrom...and no doubt countless other volumes written since). By default, given the short time this works was in existance, it is rare ! It's a superb find !!
Cheers, Mike.

[KevinH]

I didn't know Bonhams were the only major auction house regularly holding important paperweight auctions !

After Sotheby's & Christie's (at least, in London) pulled out of regular paperweight sales, preffering to only handle items with a minimum catalogue value, Bonhams is now the main London outlet for paperweights - with Simon Cottle being one of the few auction staff having paperweight experience.

[tropdevin]

***

Regarding Auction Houses and Identification and Valuation (no names, no pack drill....): there are very few auction houses that have someone on their staff who knows much about paperweights. Many auction houses will offer an opinion, but that opinion may be 'less than accurate', to put it kindly.  Usually the error is to suggest something made in Murano, China or by Caithness is antique and valuable - but they can also identify antique French or Bacchus weights as 'millefiori paperweight estimate £20 - £30'.

Even large auction houses make mistakes: one major national firm recently sent a collection of modern American weights (worth maybe £6000 - £8000) to a provincial office, where it was sold in lots of 20 weights at a time, as 'paperweights', not illustrated online or in the catalogue. Needless to say the weights sold for a lot less than the market value. And I recall a London sale recently with an obvious Murano carpet ground described as a 'unique Bacchus'. Another repeated error is 'signed by Paul Ysart with a 'P' cane'.

Some auction houses recognise the issue (which applies to all specialised areas of expertise, not just paperweights of course), and contact more knowledgeable people for advice (there are 3 auction houses who sometimes ask my advice about paperweights, for example). But these are in the minority, and have to recognise that they need to ask in the first place!

If you are selling, expect to lose 30% or more of the hammer price in commission if you sell through any of the major auction houses.

Alan

[jonchellycain]

Thanks again everyone
With regards to keeping it i would love to and wish we where in a position too, but unfortunitly needs must.
Alan, i havent as yet discussed commision but i was guessing around 25-30%
Its all a gamble really as if you put it into a standard auction its unlikely to raise serious bidders so your sale price is alot lower, or you put it into a higher end auction like Bonhams where your more likely to get serious bidders but pay a higher commision.
I certainly wouldnt put it into any of the sales around here, thats where i buy from so know how badly glass sells.
I think to be honest considering what i initially paid for the weight, i wouldnt worry to much about paying a higher commision.
All the best
michelle

[alexander]

Have you considered eBay?

You can list it at a reserve of £900 and see what happens.

This type of Clichy usually does well on eBay.

[Antonia]

I would certainly bid on it if you put it on Ebay.

[tropdevin]

***
There is never any harm in trying to sell something at a 'strong' price.  However, we have a dozen Clichy colour grounds in our collection, and only 3 cost over £900 - and they were weights 3 inch diameter or more. My feeling for your weight is that it is a £450 - £600 item; but you can be lucky on the day!

Alan

[Baked_Beans]

With regard to selling on ebay, I have sold a number of glass items via ebay with good results . The one thing I would suggest is taking numerous close-up photos of any faults....chips,flea-bites , bruises , scratches etc.. It really helps the buyer(of course). In some ways it gives a better view of an item than a general photo an auction house would post via the internet. You would need to phone the auctioneers to get a verbal description (which isn't as good as a sequence of close-up photos). That is where ebay wins over a general auctioneers description which is limited.
If my spondulicks situation was better than it is now, I too would bid if you listed the weight via ebay. I might however be able to afford this neck tie  

 http://www.amazon.com/Love-Clichy-Party-Decoration-Necktie/dp/B001GSM7P6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1275062693&sr=8-8

All the best ! Mike.

[stew2u2]

Hi
i found well stummbled on a clichy at a car boot bought for £3 sold on ebay for £577 on that
it looked like this one