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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: mhgcgolfclub on April 14, 2007, 09:35:30 AM

Title: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: mhgcgolfclub on April 14, 2007, 09:35:30 AM

An old paperweight I bought today, it does have quite a few marks and scratches but looks quite old, 3" in diameter, has a concaved base, not really into paperweights but thought this one looks intersting, having had a look around a few books wondered if American, is the pattern made up with small ground up pieces of coloured glass or am I miles of the mark
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6449
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6450
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6451
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6452
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6453

many thanks Roy

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: Frank on April 14, 2007, 10:04:24 AM

Weird. What is the line going around just above the twist, looks like a looong bubble?

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6450

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: mhgcgolfclub on April 14, 2007, 10:18:32 AM

Yes it is weird trying to look closely it does look like a long bubble, there is also another part bubble below the twist, the center looks like sulphide

Roy

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: Leni on April 14, 2007, 10:20:30 AM

That' 'bubble' looks like where the two gathers of glass were joined together, Frank! 

It's what is called a Jasper ground, and yes it's made up of tiny bits of coloured glass.  It's got a wonderful three-colour torsade, hasn't it?  :o

I'd say Bohemian / Silesian.   

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: mhgcgolfclub on April 14, 2007, 10:36:13 AM

Hi

Thanks for that Leni I have learnt something today I have tried to take a clearer picture but not easy as the marks on the glass distort the picture
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-6454

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: karelm on April 14, 2007, 02:34:11 PM

Hi,
The jasper ground and even the sulphide seems right for Bohemian.  The torsade worries me though.  I cant remember seeing that in a Bohemian weight before?  I know there are amazing Bohemian millefiori weights so I'm sure the knowledge was there but are there other examples?
Can somebody expand on Silesian please?
Kind regards,

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: Leni on April 14, 2007, 04:35:00 PM

Quote from: karelm on April 14, 2007, 02:34:11 PM

Can somebody expand on Silesian please?
Kind regards,

Silesia was / is North of Bohemia.  Bits of it are / have been variously in Poland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, 'Prussia', etc. etc.  It's a traditional glass-making area. 

Silesian weights are pretty much like 'Bohemian' weights, IMHO.  Experts claim they can tell t'other from which, but even they argue over them sometimes.  I certainly don't claim to know, so that's why I said "Bohemian / Silesian"  ::)

HTH  ;D ;)

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: karelm on April 14, 2007, 05:14:03 PM

Thanks Leni.  Any thoughts on the torsade?
Kind regards,

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: KevinH on April 15, 2007, 02:23:28 PM

In Peter Von Brackel's excellent Paperweights Historicism Art Nouveau Art deco 1842 to Present, a very nice "basket" weight is shown on page 25. It has millefiori, two torsades and a handle made from the same coloured twist cane. The millefiori canes are "Silesian / Bohemian" and the base is star cut. It is said to be a "rare motif from this area" - whether that applies just to the basket form or also to the use of a torsade (or "staves") I'm not sure.

I think the "extended air bubble" above the torsade in Roy's weight is pretty much as Leni said. Probably the result of not marvering in the torsade therefore leaving a clear recess at the top edge (and probably also underneath, to some extent) which, in taking the next gather of glass has trapped air in a neat ring around the weight. Deliberate by design? Or just a pleasing effect?

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: mhgcgolfclub on April 15, 2007, 03:32:23 PM

Thanks for information what approx date would the paperweight be from,not being an expert on paperweights and just going on the looks I would guess pre 1900

many thank roy

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: mhgcgolfclub on May 14, 2007, 08:47:27 PM

I was just browsing and came across this paperweight on ebay which looks similar to my one any comments or thoughts please, could my one be an old Saint Louis http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220112044779

Roy

Title: Re: Help with ID of old paperweight please
Post by: KevinH on May 14, 2007, 10:08:53 PM

I can't say for certain that your weight, Roy, is not St Louis, but I doubt that it is.

All of the St Louis panelled weights I have seen (mostly in books) have had a solid length of white as separators - not coloured chips (or cane?). Another St Louis panelled is shown here (http://www.kevh.clara.net/exhib99/Antique/French/StLouis/SLPanel18.htm)