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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Resolved Paperweight Queries => Topic started by: millarart on March 06, 2005, 10:05:40 AM

Title: Help to id a paperweight please ID = Alum Bay, IOW (pics all gone)
Post by: millarart on March 06, 2005, 10:05:40 AM
Hi,
      can anyone help me to identify a maker of a paperweight please on the pontil/base it has the letters AB which are joined together , any help would be nice,  the letters/initials are embossed like the Strathearn salmon pontil
             
                                     
Signature
http://tinypic.com/21q4uc

Weight
http://tinypic.com/21q4xh


                           thanks Gary :D
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Frank on March 07, 2005, 08:57:51 PM
No idea... Kevin?
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: KevinH on March 08, 2005, 01:30:46 AM
Nope, no idea, other than possibly American work in the manner of St Clair / Rice / Zimmerman. I did say to Gary via email that it might be English studio, but having now seen a couple of images, I think American is favourite.

I have asked in a specialist paperweight group - but for the last few months, apart from one genuine message, all that has been coming through is spam! Let's see what happens.
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 08, 2005, 09:19:10 AM
Frank/ Glassmakers, Do you know how the type of bubble produced in this piece is done? TTFN, Sue (not a boy, obsessed with bubbles)
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Frank on March 08, 2005, 09:39:12 AM
I guess they poke holes in the coloured 'blob' before the final casing. Most paperweight bubbles are done by poking. Same approach as used in that mould for doing controlled bubbles on other glassware.

The indentations use surface tension of the molten glass to trap air as a new gather is added.

Bigger bubbles can also be blown into pieces, presumably using special blowpies  :?:  I imagine that the torroidal bubble in Ivo's(?) piece was blown in somehow.
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 08, 2005, 11:24:31 AM
i've got the same mark on a PW frog and i also have no idea what it means
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Frank on March 08, 2005, 11:48:16 AM
Can you add a pic to the thread Ray?
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 08, 2005, 12:45:57 PM
here we are it's only 2" high


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/refined/th_b0f2b2bb.jpg) (http://photobucket.com/albums/v235/refined/?current=b0f2b2bb.jpg&action=view)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/refined/th_877a351f.jpg) (http://photobucket.com/albums/v235/refined/?current=877a351f.jpg&action=view)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/refined/th_9140ef0d.jpg) (http://photobucket.com/albums/v235/refined/?current=9140ef0d.jpg&action=view)
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 08, 2005, 09:41:44 PM
Hi Ray,
        2 inches well that is a shame  :oops:   what size is the frog???   only joking  :lol: , are the colours in your frog similar to Mdina colours as i was thinking that my weight had that kind of look to the colours of a piece of Mdina i have seen before, hopefuly someone out there shall give us an answer
               Gary
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 08, 2005, 09:50:58 PM
it's how you use it that counts :lol:  the colours are like mdina but more pastle looking
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 08, 2005, 09:54:00 PM
:D Cheers Ray for your reply,  yip this signature is a puzzle with a bit of luck KevH will get an answer for us,
                            cheers Gary
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 08, 2005, 10:06:57 PM
just thought could the AB stand for Alan & Ann Brodrick or broderick? they work with hot glass and beads
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 08, 2005, 10:09:39 PM
Hi Ray,
         never heard of them personaly , do you know if they have a website or how to contact them to ask
                              Gary :roll:
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 08, 2005, 10:11:14 PM
just looking now
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 08, 2005, 10:12:34 PM
Cheers Ray
              Gary :lol:
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 08, 2005, 10:15:57 PM
http://www.joust.com/AB/Hanging_Flasks.html
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 08, 2005, 10:27:30 PM
Mmmmmmmmmmmm  , could well be but my weight is not dated , shall have to get a pic of their signature / base  to see , well done
                          cheers Gary
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 09, 2005, 02:48:25 PM
Hello, See
 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20&item=7306131787&rd=1
It would appear to be Alum Bay, Isle of Wight. I'm not sure, but Chris Lucas who does Alum Bay might have trained with the Harris IoW, which might give you the "Mdina"ish feel about it. They're both IoW. The great-glass website does not make any connection. Cheers, Sue.
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 09, 2005, 02:56:32 PM
See also
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=75559&item=7305389682&rd=1
and the item next to it, in a search on Isle of Wight. (I can't get both numbers to copy at the same time and get back here to put them both in) Cheers, Sue
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 09, 2005, 04:16:40 PM
Thanks Sue,
                  well that looks to be that and all that







                      Gary :lol:
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: KevinH on March 09, 2005, 07:58:30 PM
Well done everyone ...

The accumulated evidence does seem to point to Alum Bay. And it also shows the confusion that can arise. Sue's first link to an eBay item shows a weight similar to Gary's, but with what appears to be the regular Isle of Wight impressed "Flame" logo - although not easy to see in the photo (which is often the case).

So far, I have not found any references or images, other than Gary's and Ray's, to the "AB" impressed mark - so my "American" idea seemed reasonable.

But I did cover myself with Gary by also suggesting "English studio". (Had this been an "easy" id, like Leni's Clichy weight she has recently bought - yes Leni, it really is a mid 19th century Clichy, I could have sorted it out in no time).  At least, I can now impress (so to speak) people at the Paperweight Club if anyone asks about the "AB" logo :wink:
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 09, 2005, 08:01:43 PM
Hi,
       does anyone know how to get in touch to verify that they signed it with an AB ??
                     Gary
   the proof is in the pudding or something like that :shock:
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Leni on March 09, 2005, 08:18:35 PM
Quote from: "KevH"
Had this been an "easy" id, like Leni's Clichy weight she has recently bought - yes Leni, it really is a mid 19th century Clichy

 :shock:  :shock:  :shock:

Wow!  Have you been checking up on what I buy on eBay?   :twisted:

Are you *sure* it's a Clichy?   :shock:  Someone (sorry, I've forgotten who) suggested it could be Parabelle and on looking them up I could see that as a possibility  :?

When I get it I'll post a pic.  I didn't want to copy the ones on eBay because they are presumably copyright of the seller.  

Looks like I got lucky again, if it really is Clichy!  Perhaps I'd better stop buying while my luck is still in   :lol:    

(My husband wishes!  Chance 'll be a fine thing!  :twisted: )

Leni
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Anonymous on March 09, 2005, 08:30:01 PM
Leni can you please send me the link to the paperweight you won via email, i've got a thing for clichy weight's now or send me a photo when you get it

cheers Ray
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: KevinH on March 09, 2005, 08:41:04 PM
Gary - I can't find an email link but telephone numbers are given in:
http://www.wightonline.co.uk/alumbayglass/#contact

Leni - If your weight was Parabelle (modern American), it would be much tidier and the canes would all be pretty much the same size. As for watching what you are doing on eBay ... when it comes to paperweights, I see everything that happens on eBay  :P
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: millarart on March 09, 2005, 08:44:14 PM
Thanks Kev,
                    i shall give it a go just for peace of mind if nothing else
                                       Gary
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Anonymous on March 09, 2005, 08:46:34 PM
found it leni
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 09, 2005, 08:50:43 PM
leni there's 2 rose canes pink and white one as kev said it's defo clichy
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Leni on March 09, 2005, 09:00:19 PM
Quote from: "RAY"
leni there's 2 rose canes pink and white one as kev said it's defo clichy

WOOOHOOO!   :shock:  :shock:  :shock:  :D  :D  :D  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I thought so, but didn't trust my own (very inexperienced) judgement!   :roll:

Just bid because I loved it on sight!  There I go, buying with my heart again!    :P   :wink:  :D

Leni
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 09, 2005, 09:06:01 PM
should have a site on here just for paperweights for kev to id :D
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Max on March 09, 2005, 10:08:50 PM
Pah!  I always thought paperweights were boring.  

I'm gutted now.  

They're obviously really exciting, and I've been missing out!!!

Argghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

(Ooooh just remembered I've got a paperweight!  It's got a mushy pink cushion effect with lattice sideways canes....can't be anything much, but I'll get Leni to have a look tomorrow night!  Ooooh!)

<runs off singing 'I'm in the money!' (well a girl can dream!)>
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: KevinH on March 09, 2005, 11:17:32 PM
Max had a view ...
Quote
Pah! I always thought paperweights were boring.
... and so did I some years ago ...

But when I found out that King Farouk of Egypt and other notable figures were collecting paperweights before I was born, I thought maybe there was something of interest that I could look into.

There's a brief article titled "A Weighty Tradition" at this site:
http://www.antiqueandcollectiblesshowcase.ca/archive/janfeb05.html
(scroll down the page). I don't go along with the idea suggested in the article that "quantity over quality" is an "unfortunate" thing. If I like something and I can afford it, I buy it, regardless of its "value".

However, in monetary terms, in more recent years the world record price paid for a single paperweight was US $250,000 :!: But of course, as I said, my view is that it's what we like and enjoy that counts more than the monetray value.
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: RAY on March 09, 2005, 11:28:51 PM
i caught the bug off Kev, now i've got about 8-10 book's on paperweights

Kev dont forget that the $250k+ weight was missing the handle, just think how much it would of gone for if it was perfect
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 10, 2005, 08:56:12 AM
Hello again, On the subject of the original paperweight, the base of the first one on eBay would appear to have a label over the pontil mark, which is most definitely not an Isle of Wight Studio Glass label, and is an Alum Bay label, with the mountainy bits on it, and although it is a bit worn, Alum Bay can be made out to be written on it, above the Isle of Wight bit. As far as I know, there are only the two glassworks on the Isle of Wight. (NB, See later posting, there are at least 3) It would be interesting to find out if there is any connection between the two though. Does anybody know if it's just my speculation that Chris Lucas trained with the Harris Studio? Cheers, Sue.
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Frank on March 10, 2005, 01:31:24 PM
Phone number is here:

http://www.wightonline.co.uk/alumbayglass/index.html#contact

See also an intresting article with a great set of photos showing a vase being made, courtesy of Tony Hayter

http://www.1st-glass.1st-things.com/articles/alum-bay-glass.html
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 10, 2005, 05:27:12 PM
Thanks Frank! I see from this website that there are THREE glassmaking studios on the IoW, I found Glory Art Glass as well, on the list of IoW approved things. The website is:-
www.iowight.com/art-glass/
and there are some nice things here! Maker is Martin Evans.
I'll have to pluck up the courage to 'phone Alum Bay! Cheers, Sue.
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 14, 2005, 10:06:24 AM
Hello,
I have just telephoned Alum Bay to ask if Chris Lucas ever trained with Isle of Wight Studio Glass, and they said that he did. They also said that Chris Lucas did not set up Alum Bay, but was a glassblower there and has now left and is working as a designer.
I got the connection between Alum Bay and Chris Lucas from the Great-Glass website. There does seen to be a tenuous thread running between IoWSG and Alum Bay, but this is something that seems to happen very much in glassmaking, as skills are passed on from one glassmaker to another, albeit that each maker develops and refines and adds their own personality to it.

I imagine this must happen when two glassmakers, working together on a piece, learn that amazing co-ordination that they need to perform what looks almost like a dance to music only they can hear, joined by the laws of the primaeval forces of chaos of the movements of the melted super-cooling liquid.

 :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  Sigh! The romance of it! No wonder I love glass!

I have also posted this information in another thread, with a query about a piece of glass that has an Alum Bay "gut-instinct" about it, that somebody felt had a Mdina "gut-instinct".
Cheers, Sue
Title: Help to id a paperweight please
Post by: Leni on March 14, 2005, 12:12:05 PM
Quote from: "chopin-liszt"
I imagine this must happen when two glassmakers, working together on a piece, learn that amazing co-ordination that they need to perform what looks almost like a dance to music only they can hear, joined by the laws of the primaeval forces of chaos of the movements of the melted super-cooling liquid.

 :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  Sigh! The romance of it! No wonder I love glass!


Sue, that's just what Max, Peter and I felt as we stood and watched Adam A & his team on our recent London Glassaholics visit to his studio   :D

We felt very privileged to be allowed to stand (like 'wallflowers'  :wink: ) in the middle of that wonderful dance!   :shock:

Leni