Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Leni on March 29, 2005, 07:56:39 AM
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Ooh, I'm first! :D :roll: :lol:
Can someone tell me if this weight is Murano, and if so, is it possible to say which maker? It was sold to me as Murano, but I've not seen one made in all one colour before. http://tinypic.com/2hx6l1
I think some of the canes - particularly the 'flowery' green ones with white edging and the black dot in the middle look particularly 'Murano'-like. Am I on the right track here Kevin?
This is a side view, http://tinypic.com/2hxr45 and this is the base, which you can see is very clear and smooth - almost as pretty as the top! http://tinypic.com/2hxr84
It is a big weight, measuring about three and a half inches across.
I particularly love the way clear green glass rods have been used to space the little canes in the second ring from the edge. :shock:
So effective!
Leni
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hi Leni
most prob carlo moretti yep you were right from Murano
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most prob carlo moretti yep you were right from Murano
Hi Ray. Thanks :D
I've had a look for stuff by Moretti, but haven't seen any paperweights. Can you tell me why you think it's by him?
Not doubting :shock: just wanting to learn! :D
Leni
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opps not carlo but they could be Ercole Moretti or Ragazzi Piero
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Hi Leni & Ray,
Yes, I'd agree it's Murano. And one of the better makers, too. Lots of general Murano weights from the mid-20th century have an uneven setting of the canes when seen in profile - as Bob Hall described in his 2001 book, World Paperweights "... the ends of the canes ... look similar to a profile of the Rocky Mountains ...".
Bob's comment was in connection with an illustrated weight for which he added further comment: "... but the maker of this weight has recognised that care needs to be taken when cutting lengths of cane. This weight shows a perfect profile."
The weight shown in Bob's book was mainly blue, with some green pink and white. The weight shows the same style of care and setting as Leni's and was shown to Bob by the manager of the Vetreria showroom. Interestingly, it was said by the manager that the weight was a test piece but these proved too expensive to make in quantity and the project was dropped.
So - is Leni's one of the "few" that came from Vetreria? Or did they later pick up the project again? Or is it, as Ray suggests, a Moretti item? The setting is certainly of the quality found in the modern Moretti work.
The big problem with Murano weights is that apparently the canes were (and are) produced by only a few makers but used by many. For example, in Sybille Jargstrof's book, Paperweights, another similar weight, in white and light blue, is attributed to Ferro & Lazzarini, 1988 ... but with canes by Moretti.
As with the general Murano glass, pinning down makers of paperweights is not easy.
A good (dealer) site to check out some of the Murano weights is:
http://www.muranopaperweights.co.uk/
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For example, in Sybille Jargstrof's book, Paperweights, another similar weight, in white and light blue, is attributed to Ferro & Lazzarini, 1988 ... but with canes by Moretti.
I think you'd have to read 1000 books in order to get to grips with this 'attributed to so-and-so and canes by so-and-so' thing. :? KevH? How long have you been paperweighting? How can you know so much? I think my brain needs overhauling or something...nothing seems to stay in it anymore. :? :roll:
Oh...Leni, I got the paperweight book...I just have buy another 999 and read them now. :wink: :lol:
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The setting is certainly of the quality found in the modern Moretti work.
Checking the Jargstorf book, I'm fairly certain the canes are Moretti. Whether the weight was put together by them or somebody else ..... who knows! :?
When we were in Murano a few years ago husband bought a notepad with a leather cover, the centre of which was set with a glass disc which is almost certainly the work of Moretti and, now I look closely at it, some of the canes are identical to those in the paperweight! :shock:
Thanks for the URL of the Murano paperweights site. The pictures of Venice just made me want to go back all the more :roll:
Max; Glad you got the Pat Reilly book! I now have six paperweight books, so I'm (marginally) nearer to the target of 1000 than you! :lol:
Leni
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Max said:
I think you'd have to read 1000 books in order to get to grips with this 'attributed to so-and-so and canes by so-and-so' thing. KevH? How long have you been paperweighting? How can you know so much? I think my brain needs overhauling or something...nothing seems to stay in it anymore.
I have been 'paperweighting' for err, um, let me see ... Oh dear, my brain's like yours Max, nothing stays in it for long :D
I don't know very much at all. I took a lead from the way Einstein has allegedly been said to have approached things - why bother to remember facts, they are all written down by somebody else, just look them up when you need them.
Actually, my method of working out who made what is by reverse logic. I have a fair idea of what Scottish weights and canes look like. If a current query does not fit as Scottish, I consider another country that I think I "know" the next most about, and so on. By the time I have mentally circled the globe, I give up and reach for my books - of which 40 are primarily related to paperweights. I then spend a few pleasant hours thumbing through the pages until I eventually give up and ask somebody else. Then I come back here and give you all the answer - just as if I knew it all along.
:P
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I then spend a few pleasant hours thumbing through the pages until I eventually give up and ask somebody else. Then I come back here and give you all the answer - just as if I knew it all along.
You funny thing! :lol: I don't believe you for a second!
Hmm...still didn't find out how long you've been a weightlifter (I believe that is the correct term) :D
Eeeek! Look at the time! Night all xx Happy dreams of glass!
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In my opinion it can be of ALT or 3Fiori.
Normally they used more detailed murrina canes, but for few models, the name was "circolo" or "rosellina" if I remeber, they used also the standard canes, the same usually made for the traditional pendents.
Sincerely
Alex
http://www.artofvenice.com
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Thank you very much for that Alex! :D I don't know the names you mention - are they still in production? Can you tell me when this weight might have been made?
I love Venice! It is the most beautiful city! I remember your shop, too. I can't wait to visit again :D
Leni
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Thank you very much for that Alex! :D I don't know the names you mention - are they still in production? Can you tell me when this weight might have been made?
I love Venice! It is the most beautiful city! I remember your shop, too. I can't wait to visit again :D
Leni
Hi Leni,
small small world!
The 3 Fiori stopper the production last year, due to economic crisi (Euro too stong) and the competition of the imported (ugly) cheaper paperweights. But now one of the 2 owners of 3fiori restarted with a small piazza in another furnace in Murano. I'm his first buyer :-)
I hope he will be able to manage this new very small company, because the quality is very good.
Sincerely
ALex
http://www.artofvenice.com
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I know this is an old thread, but I have only just joined your forum and so have been reading all the threads which may relate to Murano paperweights.
This is indeed a very good Murano weight - as Kevin says unusually neat in profile. On my website ( www.muranopaperweights.co.uk ) you will see a weight very similar to this on the 3 Fiori page. The canes are very similar, and the weight is the same neat profile. It is quite different to the other 3 Fiori weights. I always felt the canes were not 3 Fiori canes.
When I was last there in the glassworks, before they sadly stopped making paperweights, the chap I dealt with said that the only canes they bought in were the tiny ones used in the Bonsai (trees) series of weights. He said all the others they made themselves.
But having said that, 3 Fiori also made weights to sell to other glassworks to put their own labels on - Bucella Cristalli, ALT etc. So that can be very confusing too.
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Hi Jackie, It's great to have you 'on-board' :lol:
Many thanks for your input on this and the Murano forum! Welcome! :D
Leni
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Hi - this is what I call a neat Murano paperweight - I got a good price for it on eBay http://tinypic.com/ddfka1.jpg (what age do peeps think mine was)
No doubt Leni's Paperweight is Murano in my eyes - but not just neat, quite amazing really. KevH is right - I collect p/w and those are (Italian) Murano canes, not Scottish, French, or American - its just the shape of the ruffle and star canes to the outer - but those cog canes to the centre are tight like a Perthshire - really beautiful - the 7 concentric circles in such muted/matching tones are special, and the way the last circle links up to the base ring of canes which are again really tight (look at my weight and look the one being questioned its miles ahead in quality)
But ... I have seen similar in Milan - I don't know what age this is but it is so like a Moretti - not a Carlo Moretti but rival Ercole Moretti - this webiste shows a Murrine so like the paperweight in colour and quality - OK the website doesn't show any weights - but I saw bowls and weights by Ercole in Milan only a month or so ago, I asked in a shop near Duomo and was told they had them made exclusively - http://www.ercolemoretti.it/dynalay.asp?PAGINA=321 - hope this is a lead you can follow up
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Yes, Adam, I think you're right!
Here's a picture of the leather covered notebook my husband bought in Venice a few years ago. http://tinypic.com/de0fn7.jpg
I reckon the murrine circle in the centre of the cover has some canes which are unmistakeably by the same maker as those in the green weight :shock: :D
As for your weight, IMHO it looks very like some of the 3 Fiori weights Jackie shows on her website http://www.muranopaperweights.co.uk/fiori.html
Leni