Thanks to everyone for the comments.
I think this weight is definitely Chinese, but older. The puzzling thing is that the latticino canes and twists are very, very good! Much better than the encasing! :shock: Someone in China was very good indeed at copying the Baccarat canes, but let down by whoever made the final weight.
Also, perhaps the addition of the flower cane was a way of indicating that this was Chinese, thus 'protecting' the maker from accusations of faking, as that is the one thing which should have told me straight away that it wasn't a genuine Baccarat! :oops: :roll:
Does anyone have an idea of the date? The story I heard was that this copying of antique weights was started in the 1930's, but I have also heard that it continued until the '60's :? I do have an older Chinese millefiori weight and, although the canes are quite good, the encasing glass, while relatively free from bubbles and frit, is the yellowish, poor quality glass frequently associated with the older Chinese weights. This 'fake Baccarat' weight is encased in a 'whiter' glass, although it is still not as good as the modern Chinese glass, some of which is virtually indistinguishable from glass made anywhere else!
Well, I think this is an interesting weight, even though it's not worth repolishing, and I shall just add it to my collection. It's clearly not going to be sold on at a profit, but that's not what I do anyway, is it? :wink: :roll: :lol:
Topic: Baccarat? (Read 7001 times)
