Topic: A Good Book On Paperweights...Any Suggestions???

[kane_u_pain]

Hi All, I am considering in the next year or so to get a nice but small, no more than 10-15 paperweight collection going. I would be looking at buying a good sample of different countries/makers. I am not really a big fan of the millefiori paperweights but will have a few.

Could all you knowledgeable paperweight posters provide suggestions of some good books that I could look into? I would prefer a book that is dedicated to only paperweights from a wide selection of countries/makers with as many different designs as possible. I hope you can help with suggestions. 

-Not sure if this is supposed to go here of Glass Cafe mods. Feel free to move if it is in the wrong place...

[SophieB]

It depends what you want/like to read but I would suggest Ann Metcalfe's book as an introductionary read: Paperweights of the 19th and 20th Centuries: A Collector's Guide (Miller's Collecting Guides). It is a small book but it covers quite a lot of ground.

However, if you want a 'larger' book on the subject from the start, I would recommend 'Paperweights of the World' (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Monika Flemming and Peter Pommerencke.

By the way, a collection of 10-15 paperweights seems to me to be optimistically small!!! 

SophieB

[alexander]

I started with Sibylle Jargstorf's "Paperweights" - a very nice book with a wide variety of makers, primarly focused on European paperweights,
if you like lampwork you may want to find a book that deals with modern US makers too.

[kane_u_pain]

Excellent. Thanks for the suggestions. I can sccout the books out and see what is best for me. I am hoping to keep it to about 10-15 SophieB! Lets see how I go on that one! 

[KevinH]

I agree with Sophie that Anne Metcalfe's book (in the Millers range) is probably the best starter as it really is a good summary, both in text and images, of all sorts of paperweights from all sorts of places. And it can be found on eBay for very little cost.

But I also agree with Alexander, that Sibylle Jargstorff's book is great for a more detailed coverage of paperweights world wide.

As for trying to get a representative sample of world weights in a 10 - 15 item collection, I tend to agree again with Sophie. But ... as an example ...

A couple of years ago, the folk at Cambridge Glass Fair asked the Paperweight Collectors Circle if they could put on a "Foyer Exhibition" of weights. When considering a theme, it was decided to replicate a 1,000+ weight exhibition, held the previous year at the week-long London Olympia Antiques Fair, covering makers from around the word, antique to modern. And this replication was going to fit into three glass cabinets against one small wall of the foyer at the entrance to the glass fair!!! It was done reasonably well - but with approximately 60 weights, not 15 maximum.

The problem is, once you decide what weights to collect, you will then keep finding better examples of the ones you have and will end up improving all the time. And you will extend the millefiori collection as well, once you reaslise the sheer variety of patterns and colours available. And then you will start to examine the minute detail of all your weights, and that will start you off in another collecting theme ...

But you might not 

[tropdevin]

Hi

I agree that the Miller's Guide is a good starter - though the prices are a little out of date.  I put together a more comprehensive list of Paperweight Books that are usually available somewhere, a year or so ago, so it is a little out of date. You can find that listhere.

Alan

[carolglass]

Thanks Alan for the link. I too have been making a list and funny thing-nearly all those books are on my list- must have a cull!! I agree the Millers book is a great little starter, my only other pwght book is Glass Pwghts by James Mackay-in comparison not as good a reference book being somewhat old. Many thanks to Kane for starting the thread. regards Carol

[paperweights]

I have a rather complete (my opinion) list of books on paperweights, most with descriptions at:

http://paperweights.com/books.htm

A lot depends on what types of paperweights the buyer is interested in. 

The Paperweight Collectors Association also put together their basic library list

http://paperweight.org/references/RecommendedBookList.pdf

[kane_u_pain]

That is a interesting list paperweights! I think i might start of with the Millers book first then buy a few other afterwards. I will give the books a  good read and then browse through the internet for weights before I start to buy any. I definitely will keep it small as I must admit, paperweights are not really my thing  but I can understand there appeal. It's very rare that I drool over a paperweight so I would like to own a few good weights that I 'can live with'.

Many thanks everyone for Titles and Authors. It is highly appreciated!  :thup: