Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: tropdevin on June 19, 2012, 06:13:25 AM
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[Mod: This thread has been created from posts in another thread as it relates to a research topic that may gather pace on its own. ]
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Together with a fellow collector I am working on an article on Chinese lampwork and millefiori paperweights, and I am trying to get evidence for when particular designs were made or marketed, particularly pre-1960. This might come, for example, from early auction catalogues, books, or sales brochures with images. Evangeline Bergstrom had a few early Chinese paperweights, and gives images of these and dates of acquisition in the late 1930s. But there may well be more information like that somewhere out there. Any help gratefully received.
Alan
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Alan,
Check out the Smith book on American glass paperweights from 1939. You will find some Chinese weights in there, although none are millefiori. The book also has some early Murano items that I would have said were much later.
Regards,
Allan
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Hi Allan.
Thanks for the information - interesting images, even though black and white. As you note, the Murano pieces are a surprise: I would have put them as mid 20th century.
It is interesting too to see the attributions that were being made at that time! ;D
Alan
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Hi Alan,
Smith had a lot of incorrect information. If the glass worker or descendants claimed it was made in New England he showed an interest in buying it. That encouraged the sources to .... call it what you will. The book is more a curiosity than a reference, but it does provide early pictures of weights as does the Bergstrom 1940 book a year later. Both books were self-published.
As for the pictures being in black and white, he had at least a few copies hand colored. There were two editions, the first with a blue cover (187 pages) and the second with a green cover (173) pages. I have copy #6 with a blue cover and all of the pictures are hand colored. The extra pages 175-187 seem to be left over notes that are not well organized. Many copies of the blue first printing have a hand colored frontpiece page.
Regards,
Allan