Topic: Polar Bear Paperweight- Mats Jonasson

[petet63]

Is this piece by Mats Jonasson. I apologise for photo quality, Im not home and am using my phone. I cant make out the signature and the few sigs I have seen online are just as hard to work out. I am trying to be a bit more confident with my identifying of pieces but am still learning (slowly but surely) Thanks. Pete

[Tigerchips]

If it's marked 'MJ' it probably is....

There's a few here you can compare signatures with... http://www.20thcenturyglass.com/glass_encyclopedia/scandinavian_glass/matsjonasson_glass/matsjonassonglass_home.html

[rosieposie]

That's a good one Pete,  it says Mats Jonasson Sweden in full and the number for the style.  I'll try to get some provenance for you...OK?

[rosieposie]

This looks like it,  but the number says 33550 and yours is 3550,  so I suspect yours might be an older model.

http://www.crystal-fox.com/index.cfm/mats_jonasson_polar_bear_crystal_sculpture_mj_33550_481.htm

[petet63]

I picked up a paperweight last week with a viking on it. For some reason it just didnt feel 'quality' and after getting this, the first for me, I can now tell the difference, especially the clarity and feel. The MJ piece has the silkiest smoothest feel about it. As for the signature, I have seen a few now and each one looks different to me. It must take a practised eye to spot real sigs. Mine has been the same since I was 18 but the ones on these seem different everytime
That link is the same as mine rosie, I have seen a few with different stances etc. Thanks again for the info.

[Ivo]

many of the "almost MJ" ones are by Nybro.

[petet63]

Another site added to my ever growing  Fave list Thanks Ivo. It has some beautiful pieces, I love the face art glass on there. Sadly the 'other ' paperweight I have doesn't come close to Nybro quality more kindergarten quality than anything but was worth a £1 to eliminate it as rubbish. (I feel a Bootsale coming up to sell the bits I have accumulated) Unless someone starts a 'I bought a piece of rubbish' thread it will not see a camera at all. It was shiny and Im a man, we cant resist shiny