Hi mmarc77 & to you all...
Fogive me, but I am unfamiliar with Ysart weights. I'd love to see some pice if you have a link please.
I've had St Louis (in the past) and I also produced one or two of my own many years ago
(but obviously nothing in comparison) and I can see as to why these glass-types are relatively expensive.
A good paperweight is very challenging to produce. Far more are discarded than being deemed as being perfect. They are incredibly time consuming to make with perfection, the slightest of errors and it's a no-go piece.
Many hours for example can be spent on the cane work, or any other internal decorative,
all of which have to placed with absoloute precision, which is not easy...
Glass compatabilities are also a governing factor in terms of different colour types,
and only once the weight has cooled will any "error" during the making process become apparant.
I do have some truly super-large weights. Larger even than Dumps.
All are clear crystal, with internal bubbles, one of which is as large as a ten-pin bowling ball...
Many thanks for sharing this post with us. Very interest it is too... J