Author Topic: two on ebay (Read 2979 times)

pamela · « **on:** July 22, 2006, 09:22:54 PM »

paperweights are not so important to me and I am not on commission

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150003001349&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

http://cgi.ebay.de/toller-Glas-Briefbeschwerer-Paperweight-wohl-Murano_W0QQitemZ150005415743QQihZ005QQcategoryZ20QQcmdZViewItem
anyone interested :wink:

Frank · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2006, 08:59:24 AM »

First is intriguing, what is it? Second YUK!

Anne · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2006, 07:40:33 PM »

Inscription on the 1st one reads (according to the seller):
Zur Erinnerung a. d. Kriegsjahr 1914/17
which FreeTrans converts to:
To the memory a. d. war year 1914/17

So a war memorial paperweight... that's unusual. But why to 1917, rather than 1918 when the war ended?

From the scratching on the glass it looks like it's been around a bit.

pamela · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2006, 08:38:13 PM »

Thank you Anne for translation - now I may add the meaning of a.d.
it's NOT ante domini BTW ;o)

Zur Erinnerung an das Kriegsjahr 1914/17

an das means just OF and the plural is missing:

zur Erinnerung an die Kriegsjahre 1914/17

to the memory of war years 1914/17

my knowledge in history is poor, I agree with you that it was 1914 til 1918

Maybe this PW was produced or later inscripted in another corner of the world where WW1 had ended earlier perhaps? Africa? I do not know...

KevinH · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2006, 10:33:40 PM »

Paperweights of the "Bubble and Coloured Bits" pattern were made in lots of countries, but most seem to have been from Bohemia / Silesia / Thuringia and, later, Czechoslavakia. The fact the inscription is in German ties in well with that part of the world for its manufacture. I have seen other examples of paperweights like this, with flat tops, and they also include Hungary as the place of making.

Generally, 1910 to 1930 is the period that lots of these were made. But this is the first I have seen with a commemorative inscription. And, like others, I am a little puzzled by the 1914 - 1917 date. I wonder if it could have been a personal memento for someone who fought during those years.

Anne · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2006, 12:04:37 AM »

Russia was only in the first world war until 1917 (from 1914) as the October Revolution meant the end of the Russian involvement. I wonder if this could be relevant with respect to the weight under discussion? If so, why would the inscription be in German? French was the other main language of Russia at that time (certainly of the court and royal household).

I found this comment which indicates that more than just Russia itself was affected by the Russian/German armistice:

Quote

Following the successful revolution by the Bolsheviks, the Russians signed an Armistice with Germany at Brest-Litovsk. The terms of the treaty were harsh: Russia had to surrender Poland, the Ukraine and other regions.
Source: http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/WW1_timeline.htm

Frank · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2006, 08:20:17 AM »

German was a common language for Bohemian glassworks as many were owned/run by Germans.