Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: carolglass on December 27, 2007, 02:07:05 AM
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What would make this paperweight a second?? D 8cm H 6cm.Just purchased and a little curious, any help would be appreciated. Many thanks
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A Caithness "second" can be sold that way for a variety of reasons. such as:
- a colour is not quite right or is too weak
- part of the design is not as expected according to the control info
- there is a fault (perhaps just a minor one) in the quality of the clear dome
Sometimes, many people would find it hard to see what the fault is!
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Thanks KevH for the information-any books on Caithness glass you would recommend for further reading?? regards Carol
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I believe that weights sold in the factory shop, even though no faults, were also marked CIIG to differentiate from the same weights that were sold in retail gift shops at a higher price.
But I can't remember where I learnt that....
In any case, I have seen so many factory seconds, not only glass, but ceramics also, where you can go over the piece with a fine tooth comb and still not find a noticeable fault. Seconds may have slight glaze faults or more often the design isn't up to the design standard, if there is a distinct problem then the item would normally be classed a third rather than a second and either sold to the factory staff or destroyed.
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Hi Carol,
By the look of your weight it,it is facetted on the top.If I remember correctly the original wasn't so this would be a weight that had damage on that area and rather than throw it out it was cut and sold as a second in the factory shop.
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Thank you all for the various opinions about my paperweight, it has been fascinating. The rare occasions I post I have always been impressed with the generous sharing of information by the various members in all forums. All the very best for 08. regards Carol ;)
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For the query about further reading on Caithness weights, I'm afraid there is little to offer. The main reference is A Charlton Standard Catalogue, Caithness Paperweights 2nd edition which was published in 2004. Although it covers all (?) the Caithness weights from 1969 to the time of publication, it sadly has mostly black and white images and only one image per weight. In many instances, the photo of a given weight leaves a lot to be desired and it can be hard to see the detail!
However, Frank's "Scotland's Glass" website does have a good range of colour photos and info on Caithness weights, but as far as I can tell, does not include the 1969 version of the Mars weight.
Allan's comments promted me to check the book and sure enough it's quite obvious that the original design for Mars (which was issued as part of the original 4-weight Planets set - and which were the first official abstract weights issued by Caithness) did not have a facet. So this faceted example even though it was presumably not part of an original set, is presumably much rarer than the ones that formed the limted edition of 500. ;D
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On the subject of the Charlton guide which is far from satisfactory there is a very intriging lot on ebay at present which is a colour guide "Caithness Paperweight Collector's Guide Vol 2 1979-83"
If anyone is successful with this item it would be great to pass this info on!!!
It looks like an invaluable aid - clearly there must be more amoungst you Caithness collectors!!!
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PKay had all of those plus most of the catalogues but he has completely dropped out of sight. As he was providing the catalogue images for SG Caithness growth has slowed down. I had intended to work back in time as the latest catalogues tend to have the best images and by working from catalogues xrefd to Charlton. However, I do still have some low res scans of some of the other catalogues and a lot of collector contributions which I intended to upload after the catalogues.
If someone does want to win this catalogue and either loan it to me for scanning or scan it for SG, that would be great. I am unlikely to bid as I am completely broke at the moment, relying on subscriptions to the Glass Zoo and Study web sites to carry on the work and they slowed down for Christmas. I have the time but lack the resources :-\
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Seller has Vol 1 too http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180202116713
Vol 2 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180202116744
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I'll have a go - will gladly lend them out for scanning should I win them.
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I'm winning on both items at present - I'd be happy to get them shipped direct to you Frank if I'm successful. Limited caithness in my collection, but as I said a fantastic aid to all collectors.
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I've assumed that I'll send these details on to Frank and hey presto everyone will have access. Having thought about matters a little more perhaps it might help if I volunteered to sort the Caithness stuff out.
Having read a couple of other threads it's clear there are enough demands on Franks time/resources already......
I'll see what the outcome of the auction brings....
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Hi cfosterk,
I had both guides on my watchlist - but now I won't bid against you. I wisk you good luck - and if you win: if you have them sent to me, I'll do the scanning for Frank - I know what he wants - have scanned the Caithness Reflections Magazines for him already.
Best regards - Wolf
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Thanks guys, always good to get some help. :)
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For the past year or so I've been keeping a record of what the Ltd Ed's go for on Ebay/Ebid/Auction Houses if that's of any use to anyone.
http://p219.ezboard.com/bcaithnesspaperweights
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Amazing info - moral of the story seems to be sell through a regional auction house, buy on ebay...
Would be great to link with colour pics...
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Except that I bought all of my last lot at auction and sold them all on ebay....
:huh:
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Lots of people buy on eBay and sell on eBay. Remarkably some do it with poorer pictures than the first auction, even blurry out of focus instead of multiple clear views :huh: others drop parts of the description so Russian Murano becomes Possibly Murano with a price hike in the starting price. (e.g. but at $6 list at $12 and sell). Others just spend the whole day scouring for non-identified items that they recognise. It is a bizarre world at times.
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Ah but Frank, isn't the entire world bizarre these days? Isn't that what adds.... how shall we put it... texture and interest to our humdrum lives??
;D
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My lifestyle is bizarre Lynne. Full of texture and rarely humdrum, although perhaps a bit desperate at times.
When we moved from Germany the movers said that they had never had to move so much junk. A Dutch friend telling an acquaintance about our apartment said it was remarkable but he would not want his dead body found there. Now those we ask to move us to France say you have got a lot of stuff... but not much furniture. :angel:
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Sorry to say the colour brochures sold for over £45 each - I only bid upto around £25.00 each.
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No matter I have plenty to keep me busy till the next ones turn up. Hundreds were produced, possibly thousands and most will have survived as they were for collectors.
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Sorry to say the colour brochures sold for over £45 each - I only bid upto around £25.00 each.
I have copies if anyone wishes to check anything out, actually there is more info in the Charlton guide in most cases, but the pics are better...
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Hi Lynne, :hiclp: :chky: :mrgreen: 8) ;D
We wanted to scan these for Scotland's Glass. Wolf in Switzerland offered to do the scanning.
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Wolf, get in touch would you? You have my email addy, and we can work out the best way to do this between us.