Topic: Paperweight of the day Large Caithness Pebble

[Nick77]

Hi all

Todays purchase is below, I have seen a few Caithness pabbles but they have been small barely 2" (50mm) across and haven't appealed realy. This one stood out though it is 3.5" at its widest point by 2.75" tall (90mm x70mm)not sure if this is unusually big or just the largest I have seen.

Also on the base as well as the Caithness etched mark and name PEBBLE, is engraved what could be  read as CS 1988, but the S could be a 5, the 1 could be a 7 and the 9 could be a 2. Can anyone shed any light on what it actually reads and what it refers to?

Many thanks
Nick

[Wuff]

The identification of Caithness "Pebbles" is a nuisance - they come in several styles, quite a few colours and colour combinations, and (officially) two sizes; their irregular shape makes it difficult to define dimensions - and likely sizes varied in production a fair bit as well; the fact that the Charlton information is partly wrong (style two, page 72, issued 1986, lists the colours of the 1994 editions) doesn't help.

There are:
- Style one (1984): catalogue shows 3 colours (production codes, though more images), no size given, but only 1 size shown; Charlton mentions "many colour variations", no size given.
- Style two (1986/87): catalogue shows 4 colours 1986, plus another one 1987, no size given, but only 1 size shown; Charlton lists 6 colour combinations (actually issued 1994) and 2 sizes (medium & miniature).
- Style three (1994): catalogue shows 6 colour combinations in 2 sizes (example attached); not mentioned in Charlton in 1994.

Andy Nowson (Encyclopaedia of Caithness Glass Paperweights) gives ranges for 2 sizes:
- Mini: 46 ... 56 mm
- Medium: 65 ... 82 mm (which would be rather large for spherical "medium" weights!).

To confuse things a bit more: the miniature weight (style three) is called "Pebble", the medium size is called "Large Pebble" ... in the catalogue ... have never seen one "in the flesh" where I am sure about identification.

Now - the number on your weight will be C57288 - the C indicating 1985 or 2005 as year of manufacture. The 2005 catalogue, however, lists only miniature pebbles, specified "Width/Ht. 56mm/2in" (whilst I think 2" = 51 mm). So your weight must be a style one, first issued 1984 - and the single size then will have been rather large.

I assume, by now you are as confused as I am  .

[Nick77]

Many thanks Wuff, no that's great info.

Nick