Topic: Chinese paperweight, not Norman Stuart Clarke

[Anne E.B.]

Oh dear, lots of these seen on eBay and quite common, but this one (301578298614) has an added signature attributed to NSC. 
Another one listed here correctly with no added scrawl (251893848545). Not sure what to do?  Seems to be a good seller.  I've got a small collection of his work signed, but was alerted first to the image before even seeing the signature.  Does anyone agree?

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I think I should have posted this in paperweight section

[KevinH]

Anne, simply notify the seller that the signature is not correct, mentioning that you have examples of correct signatures. And also mention, with reference to the other one you found, that you believe weights like these are of Chinese origin.

[chopin-liszt]

To my eyes, not remotely Norman Stuart Clarke, nor his signature.
The "signature" looks very awkward and scratched on by somebody with no experience of engraving.
There is not one straight line in any of my signed bits by N SC, they are all curved, even the l and k in Clarke and the date numbers (9) are curved. They are clear and easily readable.
All my bits are marked Norman Stuart Clarke. Not N S Clarke. I can't see if the Clarke is spelled with the e at the end or not on this weight.

[Anne E.B.]

Thanks folks for your comments. 
Will contact seller and hope they take it in the spirit in which it is sent   

[aa]

I first met Norman Stuart Clarke and Peter Layton (not Leighton) in 1977 soon after Peter had established LGW at Rotherhithe and Norman had just left Middlesex Polytechnic and joined him there.

In the early days they were really teaching themselves to make glass. They both made quite a lot of work that looks primitive compared with the glass they are known for today. Peter wanted me to exhibit his early work in our gallery in Highgate but I didn't feel that we could sell it. It took him a few years to persuade me to start selling his work. By 1980 we were selling both his work and Norman's. We were also the first gallery to exhibit and sell Siddy Langley's work.

It was all rather a long time ago, so I can't remember every piece of work from those days but I do remember Norman making bread and butter paperweights such as the one referred to in the late 70s. As to the signature, in the early days of LGW, they didn't have a flexible drive engraving tool in the workshop.
They just scratched a signature using a diamond scriber and the signature was not at all neat. It is difficult to scribe onto a curved edge.

So, I can't say that this is definitely by Norman, but it certainly could be. One needs to be careful when looking at these things. I certainly could not say, categorically, that it wasn't Norman's.

[tropdevin]

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Hi.  Having looked carefully at the two paperweights referred to above, I do not think that either are Chinese.  The base of the first does not look like any Chinese paperweight I have seen.   The second one with the 'spatter flowers' may be Indian : the 3 flower spatter pattern is a well known and long standing Indian paperweight design (mid 20th century or earlier).   I have had examples with a 'Made in India' label.  That said, I have seen a few modern pieces from other sources that appear to copy the Indian design!

Alan

[chopin-liszt]

To add to that, Alan, I have seen one recently with a splodgy orange centre with three ice-pick features with a bubble - the sort one automatically assumes Indian or perhaps slightly older Chinese, this sort of style, with a Made in Gibraltar label. It really surprised me. No aventurine or other colours.
I didn't buy it, even as an example to photograph, because it had a massive crack right through it, it was far too expensive and my OH would have had kittens if I'd brought it home.

This weight is just far, far too like these generic weights, I would be very surprised if Mr Stuart Clarke had anything to do with it.