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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: brewster on November 13, 2011, 05:46:23 AM

Title: Signed paperweight apparently limited edition
Post by: brewster on November 13, 2011, 05:46:23 AM
The paperweight in the pictures below is a puzzle. It turned up at a swap meet here in Canberra (mostly car parts, with the odd accessory for shooters). It has a very clear signature that is not any Australian artist I know. The rest of the engraving says either 84 or 89 and 36. I figure the first number is the date and the second is a limited edition number.

The weight is 73mm high by 72-73mm diameter. It does not seem a complicated design, with six deep bubbles making a circumferential row that wanders quite a bit in height from the base. There are variable amounts of colour both in some bubbles (gold) and diffused out from the bubbles (pink, white and blue). Another element that suggests the origin is not Australian is the the smoothly polished base, which is a bit refined for the local product (particularly if the date is 1984).

Does anybody recognise the signature or the style?

Trevor
Title: Re: Signed paperweight apparently limited edition
Post by: ahremck on November 13, 2011, 10:47:18 AM
Typical  USA position for signature - sorry can't recognise it.   Will try to find a pair of lists that may help.

Ross
Title: Re: Signed paperweight apparently limited edition
Post by: ahremck on November 13, 2011, 10:51:29 AM
These are two of the lists I thought might give you a start.

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php?topic=20413.0;wap2
http://www.self-representing-artist.com/artists/p.htm        Glass artists

If you send me an email I will send you a third.

Ross
Title: Re: Signed paperweight apparently limited edition
Post by: brewster on November 22, 2011, 12:04:25 AM
Ross, thanks for those lists of names. I'm not sure I can read the initials of the name to attempt an identification from a list.

My best guess is D_ P_, but it could be different: maybe P_ S_ or some other combination? I infer from the pointer in the second link that you also think the second name starts with P.

I was hoping that someone might recognise the signature.

Trevor
Title: Re: Signed paperweight apparently limited edition
Post by: ahremck on November 22, 2011, 12:55:50 AM
Not at all limited to P, trevor simply clik a letter in the dark burgundy bar - that should get you a different set of names.  If in the white bar it subsequently shows X79 - 158 >> clicking on that will show names after X78  where X represents any initial.  I too think it may be D.... P.... but perhaps Q.... P......

Anyway good luck with your searches. 

Ross
Title: Re: Signed paperweight apparently limited edition
Post by: brewster on March 11, 2013, 05:39:35 AM
Got it!

This paperweight was made by Tom Persson, a member of Sam Herman’s first class at the Jam Factory in Adelaide in the mid-1970s. He stayed there as workshop manager and technician across several workshops, and was acting Creative Director of the glass studio in 1984-85 after Stan Melis stood down and before Peter Tysoe arrived from Britain. He stayed at the Jam Factory for 35 years until 2011 or so when he appears to have retired.

I showed a photo of several members of that class including Tom Persson in an earlier message here (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,42578.msg248749.html#msg248749).

Even if the signature on the paperweight is hard to decipher, the evidence chain is strong. The Craft Australia national historical collection includes a set of four goblets by Tom Persson from 1985 here (http://ehive.com/account/3653/object/88930/Blown_goblets). This link shows he made goblets around this time.

The goblets from 1983 in the images below, with their swirly silver chloride trails, are influenced by earlier times (and perhaps by Sam Herman). The signatures on them are clearly at one with the paperweight in question. They also show the numbering of the individual items, as seen on the paperweight.

Ross (ahremck): You sent me photos of a paperweight of the same design as mine, which you had then recently acquired. The signature on that matches, too. I trust this information clears up another puzzle for you.

Trevor