Topic: St. Louis large basket on Ebay question

[touchofglass]

There is a large signed St. Louis millefiori basket "paperweight" listed on Ebay. My question is would this be considered a paperweight or a door stop (the listing states it weighs 15 pounds)? It apparently had a handle of some sort applied to it. There is some scarring where the handle broke off. I have never seen a paperweight this size. I would be interested in repairing this piece and was wondering if restoration would matter if it was one or the other.  Thanks for the help on your forum.

[donaldf]

Hi, the basket was made in 1982 and would have cost a fair sum new. The issue price for a 1981 "basket of flowers" made by St Louis was 840 dollars and was made without a handle so the one in the listing would have cost more. I doubt that this was ever intended to be a doorstop, it was made as an example of the skill of the artisan to be on display in a prominent position. As for the handle..... Accidents happen    , Don

[petet63]

No help at all but ....that is a work of Art  never seen anything like it before. As Don says "an example of the skill of the Artisan"  A very good understated description. If you win and do repair the piece I would like to see a picture of the finished article.

 Link to the piece here for those wanting a look
[ Mod: please see below for corrected link ]

P.S. I have nothing to do with the piece just thought a link would be good if it's ok with the mods.

[Nick77]

A search of ebay for

 PW BK 1981 Bulletin of PCA

shows the 1981 catalogue of the PCA with this basket intact on the cover

Nick

[Lustrousstone]

Here's the correct ebay link to the basket
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIANT-Saint-Louis-Art-Glass-Millefiori-Basket-of-Flowers-Paperweight-15-pound-/281259327524

and the PCA bulletin
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PW-BK-1981-Bulletin-of-PCA-w-research-articles-/221366089657

[touchofglass]

Thanks! The bulletin was helpful for an idea of how it looked. This piece however is getting a bit salty $$$ for a damaged piece!

[flying free]

imagine how the person who broke the handle felt 
m

[petet63]

I feel ill if I break a piece that survived, sometimes a hundred years, until I get my clumsy hands on them.  I have to ask my OH to put it in the bin, I can't do it. I would imagine that the person responsible was more than a little upset 

[touchofglass]

Thanks for the jinx guys....I just broke a Deco slip shade (1 of 5...irreplaceable...) from a chandelier....I am feeling sick right now. I am NOT by nature an overly accidental breaker of things. Let's try to focus on the brighter side before this thing gets catchy.