Topic: Caithness Sea Hawk Paperweight? ID = Caithness "Eagle dome"

[Otis Orlando]

Browsing Ebay, I came across this paperweight:  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/caithness-paperweight-/170939732687?pt=UK_Art_Glass&hash=item27cccd52cf

An etched Osprey in flight.  Mmmmmmmmmmmmm     I knew I had one somewhere, and managed to find it.   On the base, reads CIIG and the initials DC CG.  Height approx. 9cm.  It would be interesting to know what the one currently live on Ebay sells for.   Currently there are two bidders and approx. 12 hours to go.  I have saved it in my watch list as a matter of interest only.  The description seems to be very brief and there in no dimensions or even a picture of the base.  I wonder if there are any markings to the base I wonder?  I think I might send an email .    I have not taken a picture of the base of mine yet, as I am not able to get a good quality picture of the markings.  Hopefully someone will be able to identify the initials as stated above.  Most of the CIIG paperweights I do own only have that marking, that is, CIIG.  This is the only paperweight that I have with initials inscribed too.  Does this signify that it may be practise piece before going into production?   Comments and I.D appreciated!

[KevinH]

Not an Osprey, or a "Sea Hawk". This weight is "Eagle Dome".

Details in this page in Scotland's Glass website.

The "DC" initials are probably "DS", since the design was from the Caithness "Design Studio" team.

[Wuff]

Correct: "Eagle Dome" - and the catalogue gives Caithness Design Studio as designer. However, at least in catalogues this is always abbreviated CDS - and I have never seen that on an actual paperweight.

I would assume DC to be Douglas Cowie - but then, neither have I ever seen a second marked with the engraver's initials. On the other hand, if classified a second at a rather late stage, it could have been initialled before.

[Otis Orlando]

Hi, yes! it definitely is marked DC & CG.  I have attached a picture that will confirm this.  You may have difficulty in reading the DC, due to the discoloured air pocket within the paperweight.  Is it possible the the marking CG just mean CIIG and the DC as you have mentioned  as being Douglas Cowie I wonder?  Then again, I just can't understand why they would mark it twice.

[Wuff]

Is it possible the the marking CG just mean CIIG .....?  Then again, I just can't understand why they would mark it twice.

CG will not "mean CIIG". CG means it's Caithness Glass, and CIIG means it's a second from Caithness Glass.

For the fact that we have both markings I can only think of one explanation (see above): the weight was finished and marked CG (Caithness Glass) and DC for the engraver (most likely Douglas Cowie) as usual ... and only after that (possibly due to the air pocket) it was decided to make it a second (marked CIIG).

[Derek]

Hi Wuff

I would have thought that Caithness would normally have done the quality check on the weight
before the engraved it?? No point in spending the time engraving it if it is going to be rejected.

My copy of the sea eagle weight is simply marked "Caithness Scotland"

Best regards

Derek

[Frank]

The engraving dept might not have notice the blemish in the base (if that was the reason for second mark) and just signed after engraving. Is it copper wheel or sandblasted?

Another possibility is it was just marked to justify a lower price range if stock was low in the shop at the price range.

[Otis Orlando]

and only after that (possibly due to the air pocket) it was decided to make it a second (marked CIIG).

Yes! that does seem likely now you have mentioned it.  All the CIIG paperweights I do have, are not signed by an engraver.  This is what had me confused.

I would have thought that Caithness would normally have done the quality check on the weight
before the engraved it??

I would have thought so Derek, but as Wuff has mention does in my opinion seem the likely reason.  There are bound to be some that slip the net during the quality checking process, don't you think?

Is it copper wheel or sandblasted?

If you are referring to the Eagle Dome.  I would  definitely say, Sandblasted.  Bare in mined, I'm no expert on the subject matter, hence my reason for now looking up the difference in finished markings dependant on what tool was used.

Whilst carrying out this investigation based upon your query, I stumble across this on Youtube.  I would have thought the same method/principal would apply, don't you think.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=0JflDWJPURI&NR=1

I thought by showing this, would give a better pictorial view on the subject matter of sandblasting as appose to copper grinding, even though, yes! it is not a paperweight on this particular site.    Hopefully it will assist people like myself that don't have the required knowledge on the finish technical term when various tools are used . 

Here is one of the other sites viewed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEWzIJGUjfQ

[ahremck]

I have three versions of this pwt.  One has no markings at all on the base.  One has a clear DC - I assume Douglas Cowie was the engraver.  The last has "Caithness Scotland" engraved on the base plus a paper label witha sticker "Caithness Engraving".

Ross

[tropdevin]

***

Hi Ross.

I have one like yours with 'Caithness Scotland' engraved, and a paper sticker 'Caithness Engraving' - image attached.

Alan