Hi. There is strong circumstantial evidence to link these basket paperweights and Islington paperweights - but that does not mean they are definitely from the same source - there could be other explanations.
both groups have flat polished bases - unusual in antique paperweights
both groups have similar glass density
both groups use a limited range of canes, and in a couple of cases Islington canes appear in basket weightsof the 12 basket weights I have heard about, 10 turned up in the UK, suggesting a UK origincanes from both groups occur in the 'seashells' picture that I have written about in the PCC Newsletter and forthcoming PCA Bulletin 2014[/li
What I really want to find is someone who can give me free access to a portable X-ray fluorescence machine for a day or two - it is possible that paperweights have a unique fingerprint of trace elements from the various components of the glass batch, although this would change if a supplier went to a new source. However, it is a route well worth exploring. Anyone out there work in a university department with such kit? It might make a nice student project.
Alan