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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Simone on February 27, 2006, 12:46:57 AM

Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Simone on February 27, 2006, 12:46:57 AM
I've never seen one like it before. It's got flecks of aventurine in and there's an E carved into the base, or it might be a 3, an M or a W.

Photo 1 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but1.jpg)
Photo 2 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but2.jpg)
Photo 3 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but3.jpg)
Photo 4 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but4.jpg)
Photo 5 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but5.jpg)
Photo 6 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but6.jpg)
Photo 7 (http://www.graphix4you.com/paperweights/but7.jpg)
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Frank on February 27, 2006, 06:17:12 AM
The e could just be a punty scar.
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: KevinH on February 27, 2006, 03:27:35 PM
My guess is Murano - the bed of bubbles would fit.
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Simone on February 27, 2006, 04:44:52 PM
Quote from: "KevH"
My guess is Murano - the bed of bubbles would fit.


Maybe made by an apprentice?
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: KevinH on February 28, 2006, 01:03:18 AM
An apprentice? Why? Looks as good as any other of the few Murano butterflies I have seen.

But maybe I just don't like the Murano ones very much, having been spoiled by the quality of the Paul Ysart ones or other Scottish makers, not to mention those of Rick Ayotte etc.

 :D
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Simone on February 28, 2006, 10:12:41 AM
It has a naive charm about it - anyway, I like it, even though it's not as detailed or precision made as the Perthshires, Ayottes or Lundbergs, etc., but it stands it's ground as a nice little butterfly. :P

Even the Baccarat one isn't as detailed or precise as the ones mentioned above - and that also has a naive charm about it...
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: David555 on March 01, 2006, 02:30:30 AM
Hi all

Hey Kev I'll swap you one of my Ysart butterflies for one of your really good Baccarat ones c1845 - 60 LOL  --- on a mercenary basis only?

Simone - I think this is Murano from the 1960s, I am going on instinct but the colour striations with the aventurine is very like a lot of Murano glass of the period and it is not implausible that makers of bowls and vases would use same glass for paperweights. The bubbles are scattered but kind of even. I have Murano paperweights with this type of bubbling - there is also the frothy bubbling of a company such as Ferro & Lazzarini - I should point out the polished surface is so Italian - ref the E, my that looks badly done but Italians are famous for this - see Carlo Moretti.

What happened to our Murano paperweight experts/website dealers?

Just my thoughts - it is beautiful btw

Adam P
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Leni on March 01, 2006, 08:33:47 AM
Quote from: "David555"
What happened to our Murano paperweight experts/website dealers?

Jackie Lindsey  http://www.muranopaperweights.co.uk/ drops in from time to time, but I know she's a busy lady - may even be in Venice at the moment  :wink:  

Carnival has just finished and last year she made her stock collecting trip in February to see the Carnival, so maybe ....
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Simone on March 01, 2006, 01:14:22 PM
Thanks Adam,

It really is very pretty when you look at it in and turn it at different angles. The light catches the different colours and glints of aventurine.

As for your Ysarts, I don't suppose you want to post some photos on here so we can drool over them?  :lol:
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: David555 on March 01, 2006, 02:35:02 PM
Ahh Simone, if only I had some Ysart butterfly weights - that was me pulling Kev's leg - when he said he had been spoiled by Ysart I thought what about all the 1840-60s Baccarat butterfly weights you have :wink:  - no offence meant. I would take a Ysart over a Baccarat even though there is £2,000 difference LOL

Adam P
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Simone on March 01, 2006, 03:56:06 PM
Quote from: "David555"
Ahh Simone, if only I had some Ysart butterfly weights - that was me pulling Kev's leg - when he said he had been spoiled by Ysart I thought what about all the 1840-60s Baccarat butterfly weights you have :wink:  - no offence meant. I would take a Ysart over a Baccarat even though there is £2,000 difference LOL

Adam P


Adam, try just holding the Baccarat and look at the splashes of colours with the complex canes and unusual nuances in the weight. They're also much heavier than modern weights are. Vasarts are also lovely, but I wouldn't swap my antique Baccarat for a Vasart. I like the "paint splashes" effect that mine has.

On a par with the Vasart butterflies, has to be Willie Manson and John Deacons. I've got a few of their 1/1 butterflies that are absolutely exquisite - little jewels to say the least.

I'm upset about 2 butterflies I was going for on Ebay, but lost, because I fell asleep.  :oops:

I've a few Harland paperweights that caught my eye, but do you realise how expensive they are now?  :o
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: David555 on March 01, 2006, 10:00:01 PM
Hi  :P  :P

You are right - I woud have both, I would have them all - and you are right about the prices :roll:

I think I have shown this before - thought to be by W Manson - or Strathearn - actually I contacted Willy and his son said he recognised it as his Father's work - under Paul (ahhh we can only dream)

(http://img311.imageshack.us/img311/3972/b17to.th.jpg) (http://img311.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b17to.jpg)

It is a pin dish - paperweight and along with some J Deacons my most beloved Butterfly - woops  :oops:  actually it's a dragonfly - do you still like?

Adam P
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: KevinH on March 01, 2006, 11:51:57 PM
Just a few friendly comments. Only my own views, of course.

Simone said,
Quote
On a par with the Vasart butterflies, has to be Willie Manson and John Deacons
I'm not sure what you mean by "Vasart butterfies" Simone. From the context I think you probably meant Paul Ysart butterflies? And that would make sense of Wille Manson's being on a par with them. In fact, in some cases I think Willie actually exceeded Paul's qaulity in his butterflies and dragonflies! As for butterflies etc from John Deacons, I think that some are very good, but not of the quality of Willie Manson.

Adam said, about the Dragonfly Pin Dish,
Quote
... thought to be by W Manson - or Strathearn - actually I contacted Willy and his son said he recognised it as his Father's work - under Paul
"Under Paul" - Iteresting! I would have guessed the Pin Dish was made after Willie had left Paul Ysart's Harland works and most likely his from his independent years 1979 - 1981.

And, in a light-hearted moment, comments were made on ... swapping Ysart butterfly weights with those of 19th century Baccarat. Well, I would like to have a good antique Baccarat butterfly - particulalry one hovering over a double-clematis, or even better, over a bouquet of three flowers and a bud or two. But to be honest, I have always found the eyes on the Baccarat butterflies to be overly large and a bit "glaring". So on that basis, although such weights may command many thousands of £ or $, I actually prefer the Paul Ysart ones!

Finally, it is interesting to note that for insurance values some of my Ysart weights are now on a par with many of the antique Baccarat pieces!
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: David555 on March 02, 2006, 12:12:52 AM
Hi Kev

W Manson's son said he recognised it, I was dreaming that it may have been made under Paul - that did not come out clear in my former post - I agree with you ref the dates and origin - I think you helped me with this ages ago through your site

I prefer Ysart/Vasart butterfly weights (shhhh don't tell Simone LOL) you are dead right about the eyes  :shock:   I think they are still beautiful and like yourself if one came up for £100 I would snap at it like a crocodile LOL - actually if one came up for £500.00!

You have a good sense of humour Kev and shoot it straight back - I did stop laughing when I looked at the prices they are asking for Ysart rarities at auction and retail - butterfly & animal weights do fall under that category

Thanks


Adam
Title: Lovely butterfly weight - can someone tell me the maker?
Post by: Simone on March 02, 2006, 12:13:54 AM
Hi Kev,

I have to agree with the eye thing on the Baccarat butterflies, although the eyes on mine aren't too bad, but I like the overall colours on it, with the little canes on the front wings, but the underneath wings are so bright and cheerful, like paint splashes. Mine is on latticino and garlanded, so hasn't got any flowers. I'm saving up for another one with the flowers in.

I did mean Ysart butterflies, but got a bit carried away  :oops:

I have to agree that Willie's butterflies that I have are exceptional in every respect, and late spring/early summer will be ordering another 1/1.

One day, if I ever win the lottery, I'll get you a Baccarat butterfly on a flower. ;)

The insurance aspect is interesting - and I have to say, I'm not wholly surprised that some of the Ysarts are on a par with the antique Baccarats.

On another note, I saw an American website and the signed Ysarts on there were very reasonable - very, very reasonable - and the signature canes looked authentic too.