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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: champsin97 on January 29, 2013, 07:09:28 PM

Title: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: champsin97 on January 29, 2013, 07:09:28 PM
I bought this at an antique auction recently along with several other coolectable paperweights. Someone left a bid on it along with another pld pershire paperweight so I assume they knew it was worth something. I've never seen one like it. As you can tell from the pic's it doesn't have a glossy finish. The only marking on it is a teardrop shaped glossy marking about half way down, in the middle green stripe. It doesn't show real well in the pic but in person it is very distinct. Anyone have any ideas on what it might be?

Pics can be seen here:    http://s1061.beta.photobucket.com/user/champsin97/library/Paperweight?view=media#/user/champsin97/library/Paperweight?http%3A//s1061.beta.photobucket.com/user/champsin97/library/Paperweight?&_suid=1359486490631034371045014832774

Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: mildawg on January 29, 2013, 08:24:52 PM
Murano, Made by KB
Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: champsin97 on January 29, 2013, 08:35:05 PM
Mildawg,   Thanks for your answer.  You said made by KB.  Who is KB?
Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: tropdevin on January 29, 2013, 08:53:59 PM
***

I don't think KB is a maker - I think it was the initials of a company who imported Murano paperweights in volume into the USA. I don't know whether they dealt with just one maker (eg Fratelli Toso) or several.

Alan
Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: mildawg on January 29, 2013, 09:19:43 PM
The stickers on "KB" weights usually say An original creation by KB.  Honestly, I know little about makers of Murano weights.....just know one when I see one.  I have seen a few of these with said sticker.
Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: tropdevin on January 29, 2013, 10:32:36 PM
**

Hi Mildawg

Me too - I have seen similar KB stickers, but they never say 'Made in Murano' - to me the word 'creation' is a weasel word, and implies no more than design, which can degenerate to no more than 'please Mr Remote Maker, make me some paperweights like these'.... That said, there are many Murano weights that enter the USA and elsewhere re-labelled by importers, with all kinds of names - and recently a good number of Chinese paperweights labelled as Murano too (eg Veruccia Bregognia or something like that) . Some no doubt come via Murano, others miss out that step...
 
I have been told that one or more Murano manufacturers have moved their offices to mainland Italy because of costs, and have contracted manufacture of their paperweights to factories elsewhere (eg Morocco). If that is correct, are the paperweights still Murano? If not, what are they?

Alan
Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: KevinH on January 29, 2013, 11:37:25 PM
A search on the board for "KB label" shows a few threads from the past.

In a thread from 2006, I added comments received from a dealer within Trocadero.com. See:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,6187.msg53848.html#msg53848

And in another message (from 2008), member Shannon (Shandiane78) posted a bit more info:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,6323.msg117630.html#msg117630

Then in 2009, member Anita (TXSilver) added a thread showing a weight with the KB label attached and also added some more detail about the KB importer:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,27882.msg151863.html#msg151863
Title: Re: Need help indentifying this very cool paperweight
Post by: paperweights on January 30, 2013, 04:48:11 AM
KB stands Koscherak Brothers, an importer of Murano Glass and Pottery.  They were located in New York.  There is a thread on the Murano Glass Forum at the link below.  I have one of their catalogs and will dig it up and post it. 

http://www.fossilfly.com/Forums/showthread.php?s=9353fad8977d31353304096eb1518a2c&t=4140 (http://www.fossilfly.com/Forums/showthread.php?s=9353fad8977d31353304096eb1518a2c&t=4140)