Topic: ID help for novice collector

[Alton11]

Picked these 2 up at a local thrift shop for $5 so not worried about loss of investment , just interested in makers marks.
Identification can be a daunting task for a newbie (even when easily done by those with more experience and expertise)
Any help would be greatly appreciated
thnx
Alton

[Wuff]

The upper one with the "flame" pontil will be Isle of Wight Studio Glass.

The lower one is more difficult - a sharper image would help. It just could be Guernsey Island Studio Glass - with three lions, see the Guernsey coat of arms.

[malwodyn]

While the paperweight with the flame pontil mark is almost certainly Isle of Wight glass, as Wuff says, the mark was also used by two "daughter" studios, Kerry glass, and a studio on the Isle of Man.  I don't know if either made paperweights - the only piece of Kerry Glass I have is a small vase I bought in Kilkenny shortly after the studio opened - but I would not be surprised if they did.  Have a look at Mark Hill's excellent book on Mdina and Isle of Wight glass; better still, buy a copy from Broadfield House...

[Wuff]

While the paperweight with the flame pontil mark is almost certainly Isle of Wight glass, as Wuff says, the mark was also used by two "daughter" studios, Kerry glass, and a studio on the Isle of Man.

Kerry Glass certainly produced paperweights - and used the "flame pontil" - but a mirror image of it, so they can be distinguished. Whether on purpose, or by accident, seems to be open for discussion - I tend to believe the "accident explanation", as their label carries the sign identical to Isle of Wight - only the pontil stamp is a mirror image. The story goes that when the pontil stamp iron was made, someone goofed, and made it identical to the image given to him - not considering that the actual stamp in the glass would then be mirrored.

I have never seen an Isle of Man paperweight: anyone out there who has?

[Alton11]

srry about the pics. if u click the pic and see the larger version it almost looks like 3 kneeling figures each holding up 1 arm each?

[Wuff]

srry about the pics. if u click the pic and see the larger version it almost looks like 3 kneeling figures each holding up 1 arm each?

Unfortunately you are hiding your mail address. If you send me a mail (click on the icon next to my name) I can send you an image of the Guernsey pontil stamp.

[Alton11]

srry about that, i have fixed it. I think u are 100% right. after viewing it sideways, it looks just like the coat of arms.