Topic: Paperweight like a lump of 'crystal rock'

[Leni]

Does anyone have any idea of the ID of the maker of this strange weight, which looks like a rock crystal 'geode', with one side polished to expose the colours and bubbles in the middle?

Thanks.   

[Lily of the Valley]

I have absolutely no clue as to your weight, Leni.  I do find it interesting though as it gives me the impression of a womb-with-a-view!! :24:  Really, it looks like an egg and we can see the creature inside through the hazy window.  I wonder if it is an ET offspring soon to be sprung!  Anybody else see this or is it just my twisted brain cells?

Lily :usd:

[ahremck]

Leni I have worked on the picture of your base and it seems to me that there MAY be some letters and numbers as shown inside the green loop I put on my modified picture.  It would seem the best way to see is to lightly rub pencil across the area which should show up any letters or numbers in white and the frosted backgroumd will become dark fromw the pencil.  See attached picture of the Mat Quirke pwt base which worked well with that method.

Ross

[Leni]

Thanks, Ross.  I think I can see what you mean, but I'm afraid the pencil method would a be disaster on this 'satinised' surface, so I don't want to risk it, and looking at that area with a loupe it's obvious that there's nothing but the creases in the surface of the 'rock'   

Lily, I like your 'womb-with-a-view idea, although in 3D it looks more like an 'Aladdin's Cave' to me 

The more I examine this weight the more it looks to me as if it was made in some sort of a mould!  I keep looking at it and trying to imagine how exactly it would have been made  :huh:  Having seen a good few paperweights (and other glass objects) made, I know a little of the processes needed to create certain effects, and I'm definitely thinking that, while it looks like a 'blob' of glass, that effect could well be contrived with the use of a mould    But that would imply there would be a number of this type of weight about!  Has anyone else ever seen one?  Or am I on completely the wrong track?  (Very possible!    ) 

[ahremck]

OK then I suggest you lightly dust the whole satin finish surface with talc which will fill in any engraved letters with white and can easily be washed off with no risk of staying on the surface.  Sometimes sigantures are very hard to spot.

Ross

[Max]

Does it look as if it might be some kind of practice piece?  What are those deep marks on the polished surface?  Very strange item!

[Leni]

What are those deep marks on the polished surface?

That's where deep grooves have been 'cut' (pressed?) into the surface and only partially polished out - deliberately IMHO, to increase the effect of a 'geode'. 

Ross, I've looked and looked and there really are no letters, honest! 

[chopin-liszt]

 
Have you tried biting it and/or tasting it yet, Leni?
(Ross, you're clearly not yet aware of quite how thorough Leni is when it comes to glass - she honestly wouldn't miss any letters or numbers anywhere, no matter how faint or obscure).
I do see some sort of foetus inside it, (following Lily's comment) which has completely spoiled it for me - yuk!

[Leni]

Have you tried biting it and/or tasting it yet, Leni?

Haha  :24: Yes, you know me Sue!    I did indeed 'bite' it!  But it's obviously glass anyway, because of the weight!  It's heavy!     It's only 3 & 1/2 inches (9cm) tall, but it weighs 540gms! :thud:

I do see some sort of foetus inside it, (following Lily's comment) which has completely spoiled it for me - yuk!

Ewww!  I don't see a foetus when looking at it in 3D, but now I can see a silly googly-eyed little 'alien'!  Thanks!    

[Max]

Are you going to Cambridge?  Bring it along perhaps?   

(PS I am seeing a foetal parrot, not an alien)