To clarify my comment about Grady’s item being “too bright to be 19th century” perhaps I should have said “too white”? But in fact it was both the extensive white parts and also the amount of clear glass that struck me as different to other 19th century / early 20th century Venetian weights I have seen. But I have not seen very many!
Regarding the “brightness of colours” and various photographic effects, I agree, on a general basis, with Alan’s points as demonstrated by his three sample photos of the same Bigaglia weight.
Also, with respect to my own “later 19th century” weight (as linked to by Michael in Reply 10), my photos were taken with flash, thus enhancing the brightness. And I also use some degree of image sharpening and a touch of added contrast.
However, what I see in my weight when viewed in ordinary room lighting or daylight, is not the apparent brightness of the colours, but how closely set all the internal elements are and how, overall, it has a rather dull look from any distance other than close up. I liken the effect to my collection of Paul Ysart weights, where, from a distance the 1960s / 70s items clearly stand out as being “brighter” than the pre-1960s ones even though there are bright colours in even the dullest of the PY weights.
Having said all that, I have studied my Venetian weight carefully and I now agree that the colours, and the aventurine, are much like those in the Grady’s item. Maybe some colours could be said to be an exact match. To assist with this, I have produced a set of photos showing the colours and basic elements within my weight. The photos have been taken with a “macro lens” and no flash. This means the colours will not be brightened by flash, but because they are close-up images, they will show the colours without appearing to be “dull” as they do from a more distant view.
In order to keep things tidy, my new photos have been added to the thread that Michael linked to, that is: "Old Murano Paperweight – ID Help Please". The photos start at:
Reply 18 By viewing this current thread and my posts of the other thread in separate windows, side by side comparisons can easily be made.
So, what is my opinion now? Well, I think my weight and Grady’s item are very likely from the same maker. Either that, or the same / similar canes were used throughout a number of years. It is the closeness, or not, of the internal elements that makes a clear difference to the visual impact, and also the apparent size of the elements in Grady’s item as opposed to the much smaller parts of mine.
When were these items made? I don’t know, but I still tend to think “later 19th century / early 20th century” rather than 1850s or earlier.
Topic: victorian scramble paperweight ???? (Read 8180 times)
