Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Paul S. on November 18, 2011, 05:33:18 PM
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described by the boot sale seller as 'end of day glass' with 'substantial age' - and whilst this looks and sounds plausible, I'd appreciate some second opinions if possible. Most of the weights I come across in charity shops etc. are see though, with coloured bits inside - I have a small collection, but nothing of real interest - and certainly none of mine has a snapped pontil remaining on the base. Probably not Chinese ;) - but would appreciate people's thoughts about possible country of origin and date. The ground colour is not opaque, completely - when held up to a strong light it shows as a fairly deep purplish brown, and the line running through the top area is in fact a very shallow curving groove. Approximate dimensions are......height 73mm - diameter 94mm. thanks for looking :)
P.S. Be interested to know how these things are made please - is the shape formed by a mould, or perhaps spun on the iron to produce the roundness
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:hi:
Can't help with id, Paul, but pwts are shaped by hand - with a wad of wet newspaper.
The glass gather is on a rod, (hence the pontil scar) being turned continuously back and forth on the bar at the side of the chair by one of the maker's hands while s/he applies gentle pressure with the wad of wet paper, cupped in their other hand. There is a bucket of water nearby so the paper can be kept wet.
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thank you Sue - the moment you mentioned it, the wet newspaper bit rang a bell with me - I must have read that somewhere in the past (but not in a newspaper ;)). They do get the surface very beautifully curved and smooth - not perhaps what you might at first think would happen. I suspect this is not the sort of weight that people are now interested in - probably too old fashioned I guess - but as you know, I do rather like these older pieces. thanks again :)
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hi paul
if you ever get a chance to make your own pw do it. son paid for my birthday at caithness kings lynne realy enjoyed it. and i now have a priceless weight well its priceless to me.
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I was up north on holiday ion September and called into the National Glass Centre in Sunderland and they have a hot glass studio where you can make your own paperweight, I know they are doing refurbishments sometime next year so if anyone is intereted phone them first to see of the glassworks is open and check the prices but it is a great experience
Dave
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thanks for the DIY suggestions :) - but as far as glass goes I must confess to being a collector pure and simple, and probably wouldn't truly appreciate the merits of being an artisan. However, it's great that there are facilities out there for budding glass blowers and I do see the value of making things so thank people for their comments.
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Making one weight will not make you an artisan, that takes 7 years, but it would give you a really deep understanding of what you collect.
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Slight :hj: If anyone has the chance they should go and watch the glassblowing demonstration at World of Glass St Helens; not because what they make is wonderful (it isn't), but because they manage to cram so many techniques into one demo.