Topic: Old English - but which maker? Help needed.

[alexander]

Here's an interesting weight I picked up from the UK which I'm unsure about.
It's got some severe annealing cracks, maybe due to the large canes?
I thought it was interesting even with the cracks so bid when noone else did.

It's almost 4" wide and 2.5" tall.

Very thick canes, on the base the canes aren't covered by clear glass and the pontil mark is broken,
no grinding or polishing.

The centre cane is intrigueing as shape of the green core seems familiar to me.
It has elements of the group Alan calls OE2, were it not for the centre green and the
white/yellow/red canes in teh outer ring I would place them in that category.
 
Any thoughts?
 

[alexander]

I was wondering if anyone had any thought on this paperweightg? Any at all please 

This one is bugging me as I feel like I should recognize it but have not been able to come up
with an answer.

Thanks
 

[tropdevin]

Hi Alexander

Certainly looks to be Old English, and I agree that the style of certain canes is very similar to the OE1 group.  More than that I cannot say. Maybe it is a failed inkwell stopper?

Alan

[tropdevin]

Hi Alexander

My previous post failed to take account of the size you quoted! I just saw the weight between fingers and thumb in the image, and saw 2.5 inch - hence I suggested a stopper.  But at 4 inch diameter, it has to have been a paperweight in its own right.

Alan

[alexander]

   I did wonder about that 

It is indeed 4" in diameter - the canes comprising a large part of that - which I assume was
what caused the annealing cracks to begin with.

Would it be safe to say I can rule out Arcalus (and Walsh Walsh) as well as Richardsons, IGW and Bacchus?

I seem to recall reading somewhere that one manufacturer was known for not casing the base where the canes were
drawn in - but now I can't find that passage.

I like it tho - has a certain charm