Topic: Chinese Crystal Paperweight?

[Otis Orlando]

Hi Alan,  Firstly I would like to wish you the best with your compilation article, that maybe currently in it's infancy stages.  As per your previous reply to my most recent post, I thought it would be appropriate to post this one. Height 4.4cm.  Even though it is clearly different, I do think also and forgive me for saying this,............. that this maybe 'Chinese'.   I have looked at others during my research and tbh, they do bare similarities.  What I do find frustrating, is not being able to narrow down my search to any particular manufacturer or even, in some cases, period.       If I had posted a paperweight that was made in England, what would be the probability that the reply would be short, 'English'.  The probability is that there would have been more info., such as manufacturer and period.   Could this all be, due to the fact that, the Chinese may not have visible I.D markings or records of manufactures and types of paperweights produced?

[KevinH]

This weight is certainly Chinese and of a style and base finish that has been produced for many years. I can confirm that the red canes are identical to others in weights from a trade catalogue from Zibo Zhaohai Light Industrial Products Co., Ltd. from the year 2000.

The Zibo Zhaohai company was at that tme (and may still be) part of the Zibo Import and Export  Development Co. Ltd. One web page is: http://www.zhaohaichina.com/ but it is interesting that in the "About Us" information they do not mention paperweights! They do, however, tell us:

Our capacity of a month is very huge, including 300000 pieces Mosaic art glass, 200tons Candle, 700000pieces Candle holder, 500tons Glass bead and 1000000 pieces Glassware.

[tropdevin]

***

Hi Otis.

In the article (which is nearly finished) we have been looking at how designs have changed over the years. I have had no success in associating designs with factories or even regions of China.  There are many, many lists of Chinese paperweights currently available on-line if you search on Alibaba or similar - just use 'glass paperweight' or 'Murano paperweight' to find some.  There are hundreds of designs, possibly thousands - however I suspect the great majority listed are from export / wholesale companies, rather than the original glass factories that make them.  Trying to identify the Chinese factories who made paperweights in the early - mid 20th century is a near impossible task (but you never know what might turn up).

Alan