Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Spencer1978 on September 10, 2011, 09:25:59 AM
-
I really need some help in trying to identify who made this paper weight which I have kept hold of for 12 years. It is a couple of milimeters short of being 3" inches across and it's 2" inches tall.
Any help regarding this paper weight would be greatly appreciated and the paper weight was found in South West London.
Also just wanted to say it has silver flakes in it and has a beautiful green glow coming through the base when the light hits it.
-
Hello Spencer,
Your paperweight was made by the Riedel glassworks that was then located in Polaun, Bohemia; it's generally thought that these weights were made between about 1870/80 and 1905/10 but there's no documentary proof of this.
There's an extensive reference to this company and their paperweights in 'Classic Paperweights from Silesia/Bohemia', Pages 278 - 290, and an article in the 2010 edition of the bulletin of the Paperweight Collector's Association, Inc., Pages 5 - 13.
Best wishes, Nicholas
-
Thanks for the swift reply Nicholas,,,
Been trying to do some web research on the Riedel glassworks and I can't find much info about paper weights. Wow wasn't expecting it to be as old as that. I was thinking about selling it but haven't got a clue about the value of the item if it is from Riedel glassworks is it a rare item?
Think some more research is needed to findout what I have actually got here.
-
I think that you'll need to use the book references that I referred to as the web-site for the modern Riedel glassworks doesn't deal with paperweights.
eBay's probably your best bet for selling the weight as it will be in a price-bracket below most major auctioneers' minimum lot value; however you could try Bonham's.
Nicholas
-
I managed to find one similar to mine on weights-n-things web site, looked at there archive of paperweights they had sold previously and they had one and sold it for 340 euro's. I'd be happy if I got that for it :hiclp:
-
I did not realise that Weights-n-things included the sale price in their archive info.
I don't want to be negative, but I would not like to see hopes dashed if the weight does not sell for what may be suggested by a past sale.
Also, I wonder if 340 Euro would have been be a reasonable price for a signed example, of which there are not too many, but somewhat high for the more regular unsigned ones. And anyway with the current state of the economies worldwide I am not sure it's a good idea to use past prices as a guide for a current sale.
-
Over the past six months I've been offered two signed examples from different sources, both at more or less 1000 Euros, perhaps prices are moving up after recent publications.
Nicholas
-
Wow! :o
-
Not only that but I checked back and both have since sold, however I don't know for exactly how much. I only know that they're now, "No longer available".
-
***
I have seen several examples sell over the last 5 years on eBay, at auction, or through dealers, with prices apparently ranging from £80 to £350, depending upon size, condition, and whether they are signed with an 'R' cane. I agree with Nicholas: there is always an uncertainty between original asking price, and the final sale price!
I also agree that prices seem to be moving up for the rarer / better Riedel pieces - which is true as well for many antique paperweight genre, or course.
Alan
-
Kevin,,,
On the weights n things web site to look at previous sales look at a weight which they have sold on the right hand side of the picture it should have a PDF icon which you can click on my Adobe 6.0 reads it ok.
The one they sold was unsigned, i'm just glad I have come on here and found out some good info about this weight. I have a bit more understanding now of these weights, 3 day's ago I was totally clueless I could of sold it on for £20 to someone who knew what it is actually worth and they would of got a bargain.
Thanks for all your replies, I can understand why people collect these weights some are extremely eye catching and beautiful to look at. Shame air con was invented you would probaly see a lot more of these in the office on a hot day with the windows open. :hi:
-
Unsure this link will work,
http://www.weights-n-things.com/en/ProductPDF/Product/Print/product_id/572/
-
. Shame air con was invented you would probaly see a lot more of these in the office on a hot day with the windows open.
That's it!! All paperweight collectors to lobby the government to ban air con (not needed in the UK anyway :thup:) saving fuel, and generating more demand from paperweight makers to hold down those piles of papers. Oh, also need a law to insist that all emails have to be printed in triplicate as well. :24:
The Civil Service should have come up with this years ago, Mr T.
Simples. :smg:
Sorry, I think its the effect of the drugs I'm on recovering from the cancer operation. All the best. Steve Rowe
-
***
No Steve - it's not the drugs..... you are always like that! :sun:
Best wishes - hope to see you soon.
Alan
-
Spencer, thanks for the info on the pdf file for those archive weights. And yes, the link worked for me.
Next time I see them, I will have to ask Bernd & Ian if the prices in the pdf files are the actual sale price or the original sales price - which may not have been realised. :)
-
You can see two unsigned Riedel weights that are currently for sale on William Pitt's US web-site, listed as 'Haida region' under Antique Bohemian; one of them is priced at $600 and the other $700.
I've attached a link here; http://www.wpitt.com/paperweights/indexpwt2.html