Topic: Lilac-purple weight ideas plz!

[bOBA]

Hello all. This is the first time I have posted down here in the weight section, I normally post occasionally in the general glass area, mostly on Czech glass. I have recently acquired a blue paperweight that I understand as possibly a Skrdlovice design by Rudolf Beranek, also later produced by the later "Beranek glass" factory on the same site. I was wondering though, if anybody recognised this lilac example, as a Czech weight, or is it possibly British or other? I have seen one listed on ebay.de (the same design as this lilac one, but green) as Skrdlovice but I have found no evidence to support this. Any ideas welcome!

Robert (bOBA)

[tropdevin]

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Beranek have certainly produced weights of similar design, and their current list (Google 'Beranek Glass') shows some 60 odd paperweights, some with similar design elements.  But our friends in China also produce very similar designs to this - though the base is not usually as neatly finished as Beranek ones.

Alan

[bOBA]

Thank for the reply Alan, I know the Beranek website quite well, the trouble with an exact match is, I think, that in later years Beranek glass made a lot of weights, maybe as a business stategy and the turnover and production of designs was brisk. I have another one that has a Beranek label but is not on the website.... and know of others. These weights do seem quite well finished to me, but I am learning about weights at the moment. It is obviously a vast area of study. Another vast area of study will be the glassmakers of China in about ten years time I think there will be a need for a big book on the subject as the sheer quantity and quality of it post 2000 will demand a volume! The quality of Chinese production has it seems been improving over the last five years at least and some Murano and Czech type art glass vases can be difficult to assess from photographs alone. This having been said, the Chinese producers are not alone in producing 50's-60's design inspired pieces, some modern North American companies are prodcing pieces that make me double take for authentic 1950's blown pieces, tasteful designs too! But I do not know if these firms are producing weights to confuse paperweight collectors too!! From my minimal understanding of paperweights, there are highly respected modern N American weight designers and makers. Thanks again Alan, if I find more detailed evidence about my weights I will add to this post, I try not to leave loose ends in such enquiries,

Robert