Topic: Glass Panda Paperweight Help Needed

[vintagerose]

I recently acquired this Panda at a local thrift shop in the US.
He weighs 2 1/4 lbs, is 5 1/2" tall, and 3 1/4 wide

The base is ground and you can see where the flowers inside him were injected. Probably injection molding. Is this a piece of junk or something of value. I know nothing about paperweights, and bought him just because I liked him.  Any help would be appreciated.
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3515 Front

 http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3514 Back
 http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-3513 Bottom

Vintagerose

[wrightoutlook]

The critter was made in mainland China, and is contemporary. Value as always is an ethereal thing. Generally with mass-maket production gift shop weights, the current value is what you paid for it.

[vintagerose]

Hi, thanks I appreciate your help. I only paid .49 cents us so I think I got a deal : )

Vintageroseblue

[aa]

The base is ground and you can see where the flowers inside him were injected. Probably injection molding.

So far as I can see, this is a very nice little hand-made piece, certainly well worth the 49cents. But I don't think it has been anywhere near an injection mould.  I am not familiar with injection moulded glass. In fact  before I found this board, I might have been inclined to say that there isn't such a thing as injection moulded glass, a term more usually used with plastics, but now that I have been here a while, I know better than to reply with definitive statements like that. The chances are that there will be an expert among our members, on the process, if it exists! :lol:

Although I am not completely up to date with the latest in glass animals, I do find it interesting. Particularly because it is a panda with what seems like a contemporay Chinese aesthetic, which I suspect is unusual at a time when most similar Chinese work often tends to be criticised for being too derivative.

[vintagerose]

Thank you aa. I worked in injection molding for many years, and although it was in ceramics, the way the panda is formed looks to me like it could be made that way very easily. Great for mass production. I do agree that the Panda is aesthetic. In fact, that is why he caught my eye. I will have to look into injection glass.

Vintagerose

[KevinH]

I think the flowers in tbe panda were formed in the regular way that has been used worldwide for well over 100 years.

The body is the first part to be formed. It starts as an initial gather of clear glass onto which the flowers are laid (or picked up), followed by a poke in the centre of the flowers with a pointed tool to push a stem downwards. Then another gather of clear is added over the first working thus entirely enclosing the flowers. This method of working leaves an air bubble in the centre of the flowers and this is visible in at least one of the flowers in the photos.

After the main body section is formed, the legs are pulled out - perhaps from extra added glass.

The head is similarly worked and might be added as a finished item or even worked after the "neck and lower head" have been added to the body.

The order of construction could differ from my suggestion and there could easily be a way of working that is quicker and more efficient.

[vintagerose]

Thanks Kev,
I found that very interesting. Especially because I know nothing of paperweights. I just saw the hole in the base and my mind thinks injection on auto pilot lol.  
Love to learn, apprecieate it!
Vintageroseblue