Glass Message Board

Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: josordoni on January 02, 2007, 05:35:44 PM

Title: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 02, 2007, 05:35:44 PM
This is a most unusual paperweight, bought in with a lot of very nice Art Glass recently.  It is largish, about  3.5 ins across and the same high, and quite heavy.

It is a rounded cube, and seems to have been made in three parts, the central part is a hollow large amber bubble, this has a layer of amber glass over, that seems to have been hand painted with turquoise and gold leaves, and "ladders" around that may have been scratched into the surface to fill with bubbles when the top casing was put on.  There is a small dimple to the top and a fire polished pontil to the base. 

It is signed, I can make out the description but not the signature. Does any of this ring a bell with anyone?

here it is in its glory:

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-4440  base with signature
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-4439  from the side
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-4438  from the top

Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Autumn Leaves - but who by??
Post by: Sue C on January 02, 2007, 05:48:06 PM
Hiya Lynne, on ubbys zoom, i can make out what look's like, christmas g j perth?? :-\
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Autumn Leaves - but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 02, 2007, 05:53:13 PM
Hiya Lynne, on ubbys zoom, i can make out what look's like, christmas g j perth?? :-\

yes, Christmas is deffo there, with 1993 below, and then a signature, that MIGHT be G J or I thought S J and then .... oh dear.  That is where we all fall apart.

It needs someone who has seen this sort of work before to give us a push in the right direction I think.

I've searched for Autumn Leaves, the name of the piece, on t'internet but to no avail yet.

Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Autumn Leaves - but who by??
Post by: Leni on January 02, 2007, 06:56:58 PM
Could it be Amber leaves, rather than Autumn?   :-\
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Autumn Leaves - but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 02, 2007, 07:09:57 PM
Could it be Amber leaves, rather than Autumn?   :-\
Well Leni, what can I say.  I used to be able to read, that has obviously gone the way of all things at my age.

It is of course Amber Leaves.  Not Autumn.  It is not even unclear. I am so ashamed... :-[ :-[

Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Leni on January 03, 2007, 10:00:08 AM
No need to be ashamed!  Just wish I could have been more help with the ID  ::)  Pity the sig isn't as clear!  Have you tried an internet search for 'Amber Leaves'?   ;)
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 03, 2007, 11:32:25 AM
No need to be ashamed!  Just wish I could have been more help with the ID  ::)  Pity the sig isn't as clear!  Have you tried an internet search for 'Amber Leaves'?   ;)

Yes, I had in fact searched for Amber before (not Autumn) as I found out when I started to type it into Google and it autofinished the words for me.

Ho Hum.

I wonder if I should now search for Autumn even though it isn't its real name?  Perhaps it might be hiding under a pseudonym?

Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Leni on January 03, 2007, 12:01:26 PM
The style reminds me of something I've seen before, but I just can't place it!  That old memory problem again  :-[ ::) 

As soon as somebody comes along and says "its a ***"  I'll think, Of course! I knew that!  ::) 
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: aa on January 03, 2007, 01:55:19 PM
Sally Penn Smith?
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 03, 2007, 02:17:02 PM
Adam, I can only find one reference to Sally Penn Smith, as an exhibitor in a graduate exhibition in Australia, but no other contact.  Do you know much of her?  Is this like her work?

Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: karelm on January 05, 2007, 08:08:43 AM
I found:

"Sally Penn-Smith Designs
PO Box 155 Glenelg SA 5045

0412 23 3051

Website - None Supplied

Email - None Supplied"

at: http://www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/Sally-Penn-Smith-Designs

and:

"Sally Penn-Smith Artist
ISilk Art By Sally Penn-Smith
Administrator Paul "
at: http://www.artelaide.com.au/links.html?rigeon=South%20Australia

IMHO I doubt if it was her as it seems she works in silk.
Anybody in South Australia/Adelaide who will make the call and find out?
Kind regards,
KarelM
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Cathy B on January 05, 2007, 08:57:11 AM
Clutching at straws... collaboration between Sally Penn-Smith, silk artist and the Jam Factory glass factory also in Adelaide (hardly).  :-\ You'll have to put us out of our misery and explain where the suggestion came from, Adam :)
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: aa on January 13, 2007, 10:41:39 PM
I used to know an artist based in Newcastle called Sally Penn Smith during the early nineties. In common with many studio glass artists her glass career was short-lived, but while she was making glass, her work looked like the piece in the image.  The technique involved making a graal-type process, and paradise paints. The star shaped leaves/flowers and their colour are a tell-tale sign. I  don't know what happened to her, but she could have emigrated to Australia.

She worked with the assistance of Jane Charles, then at Premier Workshops.

There are still some things that are not on Google. :)

But it was a long time ago,my knowledge is not encyclopedic, and my memory is still working on 512k, which is why I put a question mark in my earlier post. :)
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 13, 2007, 10:58:23 PM
I used to know an artist based in Newcastle called Sally Penn Smith during the early nineties. In common with many studio glass artists her glass career was short-lived, but while she was making glass, her work looked like the piece in the image.  The technique involved making a graal-type process, and paradise paints. The star shaped leaves/flowers and their colour are a tell-tale sign. I  don't know what happened to her, but she could have emigrated to Australia.

She worked with the assistance of Jane Charles, then at Premier Workshops.

There are still some things that are not on Google. :)

But it was a long time ago,my knowledge is not encyclopedic, and my memory is still working on 512k, which is why I put a question mark in my earlier post. :)

Well, there is no doubt that her dates would tie up, as this would date from the period that you knew her. 
Certainly sounds good, I guess we will never know.... ???
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Anne on January 14, 2007, 05:44:20 AM
Lynne, you have an address for her in the thread above, why not drop her a line by post along with a photo of the weight, and ask her?
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 14, 2007, 09:39:35 AM
Lynne, you have an address for her in the thread above, why not drop her a line by post along with a photo of the weight, and ask her?

That's a good idea... I am SO unused to writing to people, I never think of that any more  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: karelm on January 16, 2007, 06:03:02 AM
...or is there somebody here that stays in Australia that knows how a phone works...
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Anne on January 16, 2007, 04:58:09 PM
If Lynne writes and gets a written response that's far more valuable in terms of identity/provenance than someone else making a phone call and asking about something on a website somewhere.  :D
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: karelm on January 16, 2007, 08:48:31 PM
Impatience is not a virtue... a lesson I need to learn.
In terms of provenance you are 100% correct...but if somebody were to phone to smooth the way for her letter...and then we can all know NOW  >:D ;D
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: aa on January 17, 2007, 06:50:03 PM
International calls are nowhere near as expensive as they used to be. Why not ring from the UK?  ;D
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 17, 2007, 07:02:48 PM
mainly cos of the time difference....!!
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Cathy B on January 18, 2007, 12:00:15 AM
To Adelaide, it's about 12 hours difference (give or take a bit dept on who's in daylight savings) - If you ring around 11.00pm at night, you'll be fine. ;D
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: aa on January 18, 2007, 02:23:45 PM
I am indebted to my friend Anne Tye of Cohesion http://www.cohesionglassnetwork.org/ for the following response to my email:

"Very probably it is the same person.  I heard she emigrated several
years ago. Sally was in fact a silk painter in the first place, and her
work in this field influenced her early work in glass - particularly her
paperweights. I'm not aware of anyone here in the North East who still
has contact with her but will ask around."
 :)
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Cathy B on January 18, 2007, 02:32:43 PM
Brilliant, well done, Lynne!  :clap: Guess there couldn't be too many Penn-Smiths around :)
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 18, 2007, 02:37:44 PM
Brilliant, well done, Lynne!  :clap: Guess there couldn't be too many Penn-Smiths around :)

Don't thank me, thank Adam!  Thank you very much Adam... I've printed out the pics, so I'll drop her a line.... I am not good at phoning up complete strangers on the other side of the world.

Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: karelm on January 18, 2007, 05:58:52 PM
PLEASE, please don't let this thread die....we want to know if it is her!..and what she says about it
..and as mentioned their can't be to many Penn-Smiths around she may know who it is!
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Cathy B on January 18, 2007, 11:23:26 PM
Karelm is right. We've only established that the silk artist in Adelaide may well have been the lady that Adam knew. to properly identify this piece, she will need to see an image of the paperweight, which can't be done by phone.

Karelm, with great respect, I feel a little put upon by your request for someone in Australia to phone this lady. I don't like to make cold calls at the best of times, let alone to someone on the other side of the country.
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: karelm on January 30, 2007, 10:59:22 PM
Anyone know how long the post takes to the place where the Ashes reside? >:D
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: josordoni on January 31, 2007, 11:34:22 PM
Ah..... well, I have to admit that due to being very busy on ebay at the mo, I haven't got a round tuit... ::)

I promise I will soon though.  And I will report back.
Title: Re: Christmas paperweight 1993 - Amber Leaves (corrected)- but who by??
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 01, 2007, 07:42:02 AM
Lynn you could probably buy one on ebay  ;D ;D