Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests > Glass Paperweights
Need Help with this lovely antique Paperweight
Anonymous:
Hi Nadine
A couple of extra things I have come across which may be relevant but most probably not.
I was looking at some 1930's Baccarat Dupont weights and noticed how much simpler and in some ways of lesser quality than the mid 19thc and much later 20thc ones.
Also I hadn't realised until today the very short period in which the areas of Bohemia and Silesia made paperweights similar to the first French examples... sometime between 1840 and 1855. It was pointed out that these had a distinctive grey tone to the glass whereas the French tended to be either bright white or blue/white. Also the Bohemian/Silesian ones were apparently much lighter although the same size as the French.
You said you had an early French one so perhaps you can weigh them and see how they compare.
After all of this it will probably turn out o be none of these.... which is why it really is a subject for an expert with many examples to be able to compare.
Anyway Nadine...many thanks for posting this thread as it turned out to be most fascinating and already I've learnt something else.
Regards
Gareth
Morgan
Nadine:
Hi Gareth,
here are some pictures of an early bohemian weight, I´ve sold on ebay some weeks ago:
http://web888.can13.de/webbrowser/bohemian/index.html
It has Canes from Domenico Bussolin, which where used by Riedel located in Polaun and also by St. Louis.
As you can see, the grey tone is much deeper and not only a light grey like in my new one, and it seems there is also a little yellow shadow (probably thats from the torsade on the ground). Also the Canes are not so fine, not so complex and also not arranged with such a precision like on the other one. And there are much more air bubbles in it. The new one has nearly no kind of bubbles in it. The Base on the other one was absolutely flat.
I have compared the weights of this two paperweights, and the new one weights much more. The early Baccarat had a higher dome and weights a little bit more.
So, from this point to see, it could be a more a French one then a Bohemian.
Please excuse my bad englich, I´m still learning :D
Nadine
Anonymous:
Hi Nadine
The new photograph is much more what I thought Bohemaian weights were like... and exactly as you say with not much quality either in the canes, with some distorted, and just the overall design. The torsade gives the illusion that there is more happening than there really is.... Also unless its only on the photograph the surface of this one looks really quite rippled... and not something you would expect of a weight that had a good polished finish to it.
The interesting point was you mentioned the base being flat...whereas the other one is concave.... this is probably quite important regarding the identity of it but I have no references at all to the different finishes of the bases. So, as you say,. it looks like we are back across the border into France.
Your English is fine... and certainly better than too many "English" people here.
Regards
Gareth
Morgan48
Nadine:
Hi Gareth,
in the book „Classic French Paperweights” from Edith Mannoni I found a interesting Detail, which probably brings us closer to the maker of my new weight.
On Page 3 is a photo of an antique St. Louis Jelly Dish, which has a small paperweight as its base. In the outer ring it has canes, who look similar to the red-star canes with the blue star in it, you can see on my paperweight, also in the outer ring. But as my canes have 7 red stars, this one has 10. But they really look very equal. I send a photo of this one tomorrow, so you can see for yourself, what I mean.
The funny thing is, that I have a weight in my mind, which I see some months ago, which reminds me very much on my one, but I don´t know what kind it is. Everytime I look on the paperweight, my mind would tell me what it is, but my mouth wouldn´t tell it … It´s hard to explain, hope you understand it. It´s like the feeling, that Leni had, some posts above (ringing bells)
At the moment I think it will be an early clichy weight or a St. Louis Piece, but I don´t know which of this manufacturs used to make such a concav base on its weights, altough it probably could be a prototype or experimental weight.
I´m still searching for a thing, that will be a proof for one maker, so that we all can be sure, who had made this beatiful piece.
Perhaps I´ll get some more informations when I look at other books from my friend, tomorrow. I´ll let you know :D
At least thanks for your compliment, regarding my english. I know, its not the best. I always know, what I want to say and also I understand english very well and can read it very fast, but the main problem I have is the different grammar, as the german Language is very difficult, when you try to put english sentences in the right way together.
Have a nice weekend, I´ll post more regarding the weight, tomorrow. Hopefully some of the other experts also have an opinion, which kind of weight is it.
Kind regards
Nadine
Leni:
Nadine, please note that many of our experts will be in Scotland this weekend for the Ysart Glass Conference, so don't expect them to see this thread until the beginning of next week!
I am still thinking about your paperweight a lot, and searching the books I have again and again - I wish my George Kulles book would arive! I ordered it ages ago, but it is still on its way from America! You say you have the Kulles 'Less Familiar' book. Do you have the 'Millefiori' book? That's the one I'm waiting for! :x
I am still puzzled about the position of the motif in your weight :? It looks a bit like a Clichy profile, but the dome is too low and the motif seems too high in it. Are you sure it hasn't been ground down in the past? I have a little St Mande which has a similar profile, but the motif is not so high in the dome. Can you get a picture that is really totally side-on?
I am also still thinking about that red colour! It really looks quite orangey. I just can't think where I've seen it before! :x And could you post a picture of your St Louis with the canes you think are similar to the green ones?
I'm enjoying this immensely! I shall be quite disappointed if Kevin comes along and says, "Oh, it's clearly a ....." and stops all the fun :wink: :lol:
Oh, and as Gareth has said, your English really is superb! :shock: :D
Leni
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