Topic: Egg Shape Paperweight. ID = Saint Louis hand coller

[cxgirl]

Hi,
Here is another stumper for me, an egg shape paperweight. It is 2" H x 1 1/2" diameter. You can see a split or seam in the centre that goes around the weight. One cane has a dog shape in the centre (last photo).
Any information appreciated.
Mary

[cxgirl]

here is another cane, looks like a tulip to me.

[SophieB]

Hi Mary,

It is out of my comfort zone but I think this is an antique Saint Louis hand cooler (rather than a paperweight).

It has some condition issues though.

SophieB

[Nick77]

It's a very nice and fairly rare classic period St. Louis hand cooler. I had one a year or two back I'll try and find the link.

Nick

[Nick77]

Oops our posts crrossed, don't see any condition issues though?

[Nick77]

Here's the link to mine http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,51975.msg294793.html#msg294793

[cxgirl]

Amazing, a hand cooler - I've never heard of them. Thank-you both for that, I would never have guessed.
Sophie, the outside is in good condition, but I think looking at the close-up photos it looks like damage - that is inside the glass though.
Off to read your thread Nick77.
Mary

[Nick77]

If you're refering to the seam this isn't damage but how they were made by St. louis, the more usually seen method was to make a ball of canes, reheat it and then draw it into an egg shape, this results in very distorted canes, you will often see late Murano egg shaped design with these distorted canes.

St. Louis made theirs as in this weight and the one I had by cutting one part ball and one only slightly stretched section and then placing then together to minmise this distortion, this was then encased in the clear outer glass.

[cxgirl]

Thanks for the explanation Nick77! Yes, our weights look the same with the seam around it. Hard to imagine this is that old, seems in pretty good shape. I must admit it feels good to hold so it makes sense it is a hand cooler.
Mary

[SophieB]

Hi Nick,

Yes, you are right I thought there was crack but I remember now about the manufacturing process.

SophieB