Topic: Letter Weights

[flying free]

If they are clay, then *possibly* the black ones might be English Jackfield ware.
The clay was very dark for Jackfield ware and the glaze black glossy.  However, I'm not sure on dates i.e. whether it was still being produced in the mid to late 1800s.
Also the bases don't look like the paperweight bases to be honest. But it's the closest clay production I can find.

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/enameled_jackfield_pottery_pitcher_with_lid/as449a165

https://nmscarcheologylab.wordpress.com/page/6/

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/509538.1

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/results?SearchTerms=jackfield

This piece is being sold as c.1880s (no idea about any dating on any of these later pieces but it appears that if they are glossy black glaze they are 'commonly' referred to as 'Jackfield' (?)
it does have numbers enamelled on the base.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Victorian-Jackfield-Pottery-Milk-Cream-Jug-with-Twisted-Handle-c-1880s-/391464404144?hash=item5b2518c4b0:g:ZF0AAOSwixtXQvyq

[flying free]

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KEYMY4_ytuUC&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=clichy+opale+double+rose&source=bl&ots=pUsOneIP1i&sig=NAgybCsC7SoS-viaMZPElUMYqbU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiNyt3bo63NAhWkLcAKHWnQCvoQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=clichy%20opale%20double%20rose&f=false

sorry for the long link
See page 270 of La Cristallerie de Clichy
This shows a coupe baguier c 1850 in black glass with gilded bands

See above that also a black glass set with two jars a centre pot and on a 'desk set' type raised black glass tray. The set dated 1850-1860.

Our paperweights would fit in very nicely with all of those items.  I should think c.1850 is probably a good date for them.

I think it is entirely possible they are French.  But I still do not know what mine is made from.  I am erring towards some sort of glass.  I wonder if it is remotely possible that it might be polished obsidian or something?

On the other hand - on page 272 it shows a Clichy flacon - it calls it 'lithyaline' glass and says it is
 opaque crystal marbling imitation hard stone.
So I wonder is my weight a marble type glass which makes it look like very dark wood grain on the base and then cased in black?

m

[flying free]

Just adding this link because of previous discussion on whether the height of the handle would preclude it being a linen smoother.
This is a linen smooth from the Corning Museum with a shorter handle and a pontil mark on the top of the handle.  It is described thus:
'PRIMARY DESCRIPTION
Linen Smoother. Bottle glass, "black"; free-blown; heavy solid double-domed circular pad with large ball knob; pontil mark on top of knob; smooth flat base, very much worn from usage.'
and
'1800-1825 Willington Glass Works '
http://www.cmog.org/artwork/linen-smoother

[flying free]

Official catalogue of the great industrial exhibition 1853 (Dublin)
https://archive.org/stream/officialcatalogu00exhi#page/6/mode/2up

there is a reference to paper weights under a section which appears to be discussing glass items displayed by Gregg and Son:

'page 1037 Gregg and Son -'... Three pairs of smaller mantle piece lustres and drops.  French paper weights'

[paperweights]

I think you mean paragraph 1037 on page 81

[flying free]

Again in the Official catalogue of the Great Industrial Exhibition Dublin 1853:

see also page 126 para 1801

where there is mention of  a display of
' four paper weights'
Exhibited by G. W. Wheatley & Co

https://archive.org/stream/officialcatalogu00exhi#page/126/mode/2up/search/paper-weight

Is it possible that when contemporary to the time reports were talking about letter weights,they were actually talking about the metal weights for weighing scales, that weighed the letters/post?

m

[KevinH]

The thirteen initial entries in the G W Wheatley & Co section (para 1801 c) which include the "Four paper weights" are followed by a statement:

All the above carved in sandal wood, and beautifully inlaid, from Bombay.

So they are decorative wooden paper weights.

[flying free]

oops apologies.
I was looking for something else and saw it 

[flying free]

aah, but I've just remembered what my motive was
The fact that in 1853 they were referred to as 'paper weights' ... not letter weights.

m

[flying free]

Just adding here that I'm pretty sure my paperweight is Obsidian glass now.
I've started another thread for the black paperweight on it's own.

m