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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: glasslover76 on May 10, 2012, 12:36:15 PM

Title: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: glasslover76 on May 10, 2012, 12:36:15 PM
Hello,
I am new to this forum, and want to thank you in advance for your time.  I have a glass mushroom paperweight which I have been trying to research and have had no luck.  It was suggested to me on another forum that this may have been made from left over glass (it is not marked on bottom), however, I have come across at least one other mushroom like this one and it too was unmarked.  I wouldn't think that this would be the case if it was just a randomly thrown together piece, but I certainly could be wrong. 

I have attached photos, it is ground flat on bottom, stands 3-1/2 inches tall (approx), has three "flowers" inside the cap of the mushroom and each is centered with a bubble, the stems of these flowers run down the base of the mushroom. 

Any help is so much appreciated.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: KevinH on May 10, 2012, 09:03:56 PM
Hi, welcome to the Board.

Unlikely to have been made from "leftover glass". There are lots of glass mushrooms around from many makers. Frit flowers with a stem formed by pushing a thin tool down through the middle is a feature well known in items from several places, typically including USA, Bohemia (pre Czech republic), Czech republic and India.

I don't know for sure, but your example looks to me to be more modern than older. Hopefully somebody will be able to be more specific than I can.
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: glasslover76 on May 11, 2012, 01:56:15 AM
Thanks for the welcome & info! I'm trying to research"frit flowers" but not having much luck, when you say newer do you mean present day?
Thanks again!
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: Lustrousstone on May 11, 2012, 06:27:08 AM
Any time in the last 40 years or so. My wild guess would be Avondale
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: rosieposie on May 11, 2012, 09:14:42 AM
Hi, and welcome......what a pretty mushroom. 
I'm not too sure of the Avondale Glass attribution but they are a very frienly and helpful small glassblowing company, and their email address is : info AT avondaleglass DOT f9 DOT co DOT uk  [address anti-spammed]

I'm sure if you showed them a picture of your lovely mushroom,  thee would bw able to confirm if it was one of theirs......if it isn't, they might even know who did make it,  so well worth sending a brief message and picture to them.

I have seen these before and will carry on searching for you.
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 11, 2012, 10:18:43 AM
What I'm trying to work out is;-

Looking at the centre part of the flowery bits, are there rainbowy sparkly bits on top of the petals, but inside the glass - under the casing?
(stannous chloride lustre)
If there are, it reminds me a little bit of a Mtarfa pwt that Christine owns.
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: Lustrousstone on May 11, 2012, 10:47:47 AM
I'm not sure a "wild guess" is an attribution, more of a starting point.

The "flowers" are also called icepick flowers

And the Mtarfa thought had crossed my mind and fallen out again
http://lustrousstone.co.uk/cpg/displayimage.php?pid=1024
http://lustrousstone.co.uk/cpg/displayimage.php?pid=1023
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 11, 2012, 10:50:58 AM
 :-[
I should have made it clearer that I was making a wild guess at a suggestion for a starting point, yes.
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: glasslover76 on May 11, 2012, 11:41:23 AM
Wow, thank you all for responding and being so helpful! What a nice forum, I'm glad I decided to join :)
Yes, there are sparkles under th casing, but they are not rainbow, but gold?
Thanks again for helping me...and my research goes on...:)
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 11, 2012, 11:53:33 AM
It can sometimes take years to reach an id, sometimes just minutes - but we don't tend to give up.  ;D
Welcome!
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: glasslover76 on May 11, 2012, 01:47:59 PM
I had originally thought Mdina? Are Avondale and Mdina connected?
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: w84it on May 11, 2012, 02:27:59 PM
I did wonder about Orrefors as a maker.   The rather pleasing stubby shape of the stem is similar to an Orrefors mushroom that I've seen (but can't find pix of).

And how about Wedgwood?


Regards

Keith
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: glasslover76 on May 11, 2012, 02:36:27 PM
Yes, I've considered both but with no sticker or signature how am I to know for certain?
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 11, 2012, 03:15:18 PM
Avondale and Mdina are not connected - but Mtarfa and Mdina are.

 ;D I don't know how we're going to know for sure - but loads of suggestions are a start, then some can be eliminated.

I don't think Wedgwood used lustres inside their paperweights - and their mushroom weights are of a completely different design. I have one (no pic to hand) it has a white stem and undercap, the cap covered in coloured splodges, all cased in clear - with a deep clear rim around the edge of the cap.
I don't know about Orrefors or Avondale.
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: Lustrousstone on May 11, 2012, 03:39:34 PM
I've looked again and the "gold sparkles" are actually copper. One of the flowers is made using aventurine, which may rule out most of the suggestions so far and perhaps rule in Murano.

Exactly what is the base like? Can we have a better picture please.
Title: Re: Glass mushroom paperweight, 3-1/2 inch, help with age and maker
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 11, 2012, 04:26:18 PM
And now that I'm looking at it through your eyes, Christine, I can see you're correct - it's copper aventurine, not lustre.
Still rules out Wedgwood, probably rules out Mtarfa and Mdina and...
sets us back on track to Murano....  ;D