Topic: Antique Millefiori ID please ? ID = Grenelle, France

[stubbsywubsy]

Hello Everyone i have this 19th century Millefiori Paperweight. would anyone be able to tell me the maker?
kind regards Steven

[KevinH]

Hi Steven,

It's an interesting weight. Might be French / Silesian / Bohemain / Other. I will have a look through some books and bulletins to see if there is an obvious likeness in the canes or the overall design. Might take a while though!

What are the height and diameter?

[stubbsywubsy]

Hello KevinH
Thank you for your reply,
it measures 58 mm diameter and 32 mm tall

kind regards Steven

[KevinH]

Hi Steven, thanks for the size information of your weight.

I have looked at several books and bulletins covering Bohemia / Silesia / France. I conclude that your weight was made in the Grenelle factory in France, 1854/1855 to shortly after 1856.

Features that I found interesting in your weight were:
- small size and low dome (but height ok compared to diameter)
- rather untidy setting of several canes (spacing and slippage)
- garland of canes not fully alternating (2 canes the same in one larger space)
- central cane has odd looking central feature (looks like a set of "trails")
- two white "cog canes" with 11 teeth

That last feature (11 teeth) is now accepted by collectors as a marker for the Grenelle factory. In addition, the overall design, and the individual canes, fit well with several weights shown in a confirmatory article on Grenelle weights in the 2012 PCA Bulletin, written by Philippe Frère. The article pulled together earlier research on the Grenelle factory and its close links to the St-Mandé works.

A Board search in the Paperweights sections for "grenelle" or "mande" or even "charles bredgen" will provide earlier discussion.

[stubbsywubsy]

Wow KevinH
What can i say? thank you so much for taking the time to Research and to thoroughly share some of your knowledge with me,

How interesting, i cannot see many Grenelle Paperweights out there but i did find the Factory was very short lived so im assuming thats why, its a lovely little Weight,

thanks again for the ID
kind regards Steven