Topic: Is this Caithness Weight A One-Off?

[Hourglass]

I can't find any reference to this weight in the Caithness book anywhere. Anyone know anything about it?

[chopin-liszt]

Maybe too recent for any book?
It's a royal commemorative bit - no way would it ever be a "one-off". Sorry.

[Hourglass]

Thanks, I was thinking the same but wondered wheather it was worth paying £19 for it.

[chopin-liszt]

 :spls:
Perhaps to somebody who is interested in royal memorabilia, but I think this is something which restricts a collector base rather than enhances it.

[Wuff]

I can't find any reference to this weight in the Caithness book anywhere.

Correct - not in the Charlton book (though it would fit into the time frame) - but will show up eventually in the Scotlandsglass online catalogue. I received several additional views from the seller, including of the base: flat, polished, stencilled "Caithness Scotland" ... but no numbers, which would be expected for both limited and unlimited "production runs". Whilst a trial piece cannot be excluded for sure, I would consider this highly unlikely - much more likely would be a commissioned weight (one of many commissioned weights not shown in the Charlton catalogue), which would not be numbered (unless limited).

[Hourglass]

I also thought Wuff that it could be a commissiond peice but is obviously not. There is a similar one in the catalogue but without the 'streamers' and has the Royal Arms in the centre of the facetted face on the 'issues of 2001' page. In the description it is said that there is a small bubble inclusion under the engraving of the Queens head, could this I wonder be the reason for the Queens head?, to cover the bubble? If a C11G weight then I would of expected it to be marked as such so, perhaps it was a 'test' peice that never went into production. Someone may come up with something more tangible or know the exact truth about this one.

[Wuff]

I also thought Wuff that it could be a commissioned peice but is obviously not. There is a similar one in the catalogue but without the 'streamers' and has the Royal Arms in the centre of the facetted face on the 'issues of 2001' page.

May I ask why it is "obviously" not a commissioned weight? The fact that a similar "production run" weight might exist, is not sufficient for that statement: there are several examples of such weights with only small modifications.

BTW - which weight are you referring to? This one? This would be completely different - not only no streamers, but also no controlled bubbles and a different "background".

In the description it is said that there is a small bubble inclusion under the engraving of the Queens head, could this I wonder be the reason for the Queens head?, to cover the bubble?

If the "bubble" actually is a bubble (there is a tiny mark visible on a picture of the front facet, nothing visible on side and back views) and unwanted, I would be fairly sure the weight would just be destroyed (if not sold as second with the original design) - not that bubble "hidden" by a fairly complicated design. In the latter case this sample wouldn't have the streamers and controlled bubbles and different background - so this explanation is definitely ruled out.

As I had stated, a trial piece cannot be excluded for sure - but if you want me to place a bet, I'll bet on a commissioned weight  .

[Wuff]

Just thought of another option - could have been made for sale at the Visitor's Centre only, or for some promotional event: these weights don't show up in publications either (so for me they end up in the "commissioned category" - which is not quite correct).

[Hourglass]

Thanks for all your comments. I was thinking that if it were a commissioned piece that it would have been possibly marked on the base with something or listed in the catalogue under the year listings but I accept that this is not necessarily the case. It's still a nice weight and hedging my bets that it may be worth the gamble, I've purchased it! Please keep the comments and ideas about it coming.

[Hourglass]

I received this weight today and on closer inspection there is no bubble under the engraved Queens head, there are in fact a 'bed' of small bubbles in suspention in a curve in the centre. On the base is just 'Caithness Scotland' and nothing else. It is a very attractive item.