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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: vitowitt on December 03, 2012, 05:25:11 PM

Title: NEED HELP WITH ID OF THIS PAPERWEIGHT
Post by: vitowitt on December 03, 2012, 05:25:11 PM
NO MARKINGS TO NOTE, ROUGH NOT POLISHED ON THE BACKSIDE OF WEIGHT, AND GLOWS GREEN UNDER BLACKLIGHT
Title: Re: NEED HELP WITH ID OF THIS PAPERWEIGHT
Post by: vitowitt on December 04, 2012, 04:46:27 PM
Most might look at my picture and think that this isn't a paperweight, but I can assure everyone it is. The best way I can describe this piece is the top portion is the paperweight and could've looked like a normal weight, but the pedestal was attached to the side of paperweight. I'm not good at my description with paperweights, but if I'm wrong with my thinking this would be called a paperweight someone please let me know. The person I purchase it from only collected paperweights, but didn't know exactly what this was. I decided to buy this from this collector because I thought it looked unique.
Title: Re: NEED HELP WITH ID OF THIS PAPERWEIGHT
Post by: KevinH on December 04, 2012, 05:29:08 PM
For many paperweight collectors, these items fall into the category of "related objects".

They are often referred to as "Mantel Ornaments", "Wig Stands", or (for obviously religious subjects) "Monstrance Paperweights". The term "Stem Paperweight" is also used but normally only when the paperweight part is set upright on the stem rather than on its side as a display for a sulphide or other inclusion.

Hard to say for certain where any of these items were made, but with a sulphide inclusion, most folk suggest either Belgium, Val Saint-Lambert or France, Alsace region.
Title: Re: NEED HELP WITH ID OF THIS PAPERWEIGHT
Post by: vitowitt on December 04, 2012, 07:17:07 PM
Thanks, I appreciate your reply and value any information that helps me learn more about glass. Is it possible to narrow it down to a particular maker? I have two books, on paperweights, being shipped to me and I hope this will help to better educate myself about paperweights. Is there a direction you or anyone could steer me towards so that I can try to narrow down exactly what I have? Do you know if this type of paperweight is valuable or is something collectors consider rare? Also, approximately how would you date this piece. I know this paperweight looks old and has the appearance of antique glass. The reason I say this is the flaws, that nowadays would never be allowed to reach the public, and the fact that it's UV reactive in the clear portions of the paperweight. If you or anyone could help me answer these questions would be appreciated.
Title: Re: NEED HELP WITH ID OF THIS PAPERWEIGHT
Post by: Antonia on December 04, 2012, 07:48:29 PM
Speaking to your questions of value and rarity, I would be absolutely thrilled to have this in my collection. I have seen this type of paperweight (and yes, I would call it a paperweight) before but never as nice or with this subject matter. My first thought on seeing it was that it might be Belgian and it's certainly old, at least by a hundred years. But that's just a guess - I'll leave attribution and age to those with more expertise. But I love it, great find!
Title: Re: NEED HELP WITH ID OF THIS PAPERWEIGHT
Post by: tropdevin on December 05, 2012, 01:08:29 PM
***

I think it is very hard (maybe impossible) to tie these type of weights to a particular factory: I suspect that there are over 100 glass factories around Belgium / Alsace / France that might have made such pieces.  That said, it is quite an unusual example with the painted sulphide - if you could identify the military uniform it might give a clue to the country, and date.

Alan