Topic: Fern Spatter Paperweight

[josordoni]

I like this paperweight, came with some other things, I think it may have a bit of age to it, but would appreciate any help that you can give.

It is large, approx 3.25 ins 85 mm dia, 2.25 ins 55 mm deep to top of dome.  Glass very dark grey, pontil broken, then ground concave
thanks so much,

[alexander]

Belgian or French, around 1900-20?

[tropdevin]

***

I agree Alexander: Belgian / Alsace / French, 1900 +/- 20 years.

Alan

[josordoni]

Thank you both. It is rather nice, in a sort of understated way!

[KevinH]

That's an interesting example of what, in Scottish weights, has been called by collectors a "feathered pattern".

From the look of how the base is finished, and also the spatter ground, I agree that it is most likely from one of the mainland European countries. But, if we compare it to my example shown here (first of the four), it can be seen why many folk might choose to describe it as being by Salvador (or Paul) Ysart- just because it has a "feathered pattern".

[josordoni]

That's interesting Kev, I hadn't considered the possibility of the Ysarts, I haven't seen an Ysart base with those 4 crimps in it, would he ever have finished a weight like that?

Spatter colours - what would the differences usually be?

[KevinH]

... I haven't seen an Ysart base with those 4 crimps in it, would he ever have finished a weight like that?

Not to my knowledge.

Spatter colours - what would the differences usually be?

Hard to say. Spatter is spatter, and most folk used red, white, blue, green, yellow.

A pointer to (some) Paul Ysart and also, to a lesser degree, Salvador Ysart work is the use of a fairly even, thin white ground as a base to spatter or scrambled canes. But Paul's white grounds seem to be more even than Salvador's and also much whiter. White grounds with obvious gaps in (i.e. spattered white) would suggest non-Ysart to me. Other than that, if there is no white ground, then I am of the view that the colour of the spatter cannot be used to confirm (or deny?) work by Paul or Salvador Ysart.

[josordoni]

Thanks Kev, very interesting