Topic: Help with sulphide portrait paperweight

[kmrotatori]

Hello again,
       After stating I wasn't going to purchase more weights without knowing what I was buying, I bought this one a few days ago. I have been looking for a similar example and have had no luck. I'll hope that it isn't Chinese (I seem to be attracted to them!)
This weight has the sulphide portrait of a woman surrounded by a fern (?) sprig on a spatter type base. The portrait has a broken neck and random bubbles are present. At a distance the fern looks solid green but under the magnification, it is visible that there is a white cane (?) with a translucent green outer covering. The spatter pattern is floating above the clear bottom base. The base is smooth and polished.
Anyone have any ideas on a possible maker or age?
Thanks again,
Kim
 

[alexander]

My guess would be Belgian or Alsace / Lorraine region.

[ahremck]

I have had a few commercial sulphides and they tend to mark the sulphide with the sulphide designer's name.  The normal "flat" surface is the neck where it is sliced from the shoulders.  Perhaps there is a maker's mark you have not noticed below her "ruff".


Ross

[tropdevin]

***

Everything points to Alsace/Belgium for me too: the spatter ground, and the green fronds either side (the latter pointing more towards Alsace, perhaps). If it were antique French I would expect it to be heavy lead crystal, probably with a polished concave base. I have only seen signed sulphides in French weights.

As for age, my guess is 1880 - 1920. It is very difficult to suggest a maker - there were many, many glass factories in Belgium and Alsace who made spatter ground weights.

Alan

[Lily of the Valley]

While I personally do not have a great fondness for sulphides, your lady is lovely!  I would have brought her home as well, Kim; and while it would be nice to know for certain her heritage, what really matters is what you enjoy.

It seems to me that a number of older portrait sulphides were representations of real people.  Does anyone recognize or have any thoughts about this lady?

Just wondering .... Lily

[KevinH]

A problem with many of the sulphides is that they were simply "A lady" or "A gentleman" and were not necessarily based on famous, or easily recognisable people.

[kmrotatori]

Hello Everyone,
     Thank you for all the comments and help.
  As I read through some of the other posts, I see so many beautiful weights. I hope I can learn what to look for to spot the keepers and not buy the stinkers. This weight looked interesting and I couldn't pass it up. I think she is a keeper 
I really appreciate the help,
Thanks again,
Kim