Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: tropdevin on November 29, 2007, 10:06:45 AM
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Hi (especially to Scottish paperweight experts)
I have a 3" diameter weight that appear to me to be Ysart Bros / Vasart. The canes and base treatment look appropriate. The glass is tinged grey/blue, and has more than its fair share of small bubbles. But is it a nicely made weight in other respect, and has the initials PKM within. My guess is it is a frigger, made for a friend or family member. I originally thought that the 4 small dark blue crosses in the centre group were just flaws in the cane, but they appear to be intentional additions of blue glass, and are placed symmetrically in the design.
Any thoughts on maker / period, and particularly, PKM?
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/rosismum/1150x.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/rosismum/1150c.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/rosismum/1150a.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/rosismum/1150x.jpg
Alan
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it's a nice weight Alan , but sorry i would't have a clue which ysart made it and when, but did't monart use a stencil mark on some of it's items, as the letter's in your weight look like they've been done with a stencil
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Hi All.
Problem solved! I showed a picture of the weight to Catherine Rae yesterday (Vincent Ysart's daughter), and she knew the answer. PKM are the initials of Peter K McClaren, who was a professional photographer. He did much of the photographic work for the Monart factory, and amongst other things, Catherine's wedding photos. This weight was made by Vincent Ysart as a present. Incidentally, following Vincent's death, Catherine's mother gave a large box of Vincent's containing many millefiori canes to Paul Ysart to use (which he did).
Alan
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For years the McClaren brothers took pictures at the Vasart works, telling a story in pictures. After the McClaren brothers died all of their negatives etc. were put on a bonfire. Those that escaped this fate did get into the Perth Museum but almost all have been stolen from there. The Ysart family probably have the largest collection. One of the the brothers received an industrial photography/press award for one of his photos of Vincent Ysart.
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That's good to get the PKM initials sorted, Alan.
I was looking for, but could not yet find, my correspondence with Dave Moir of a couple of years ago (or longer?) about another, similar weight with exactly the same PKM initials. At the time, Dave had also asked John Deacons and the best suggestion then was Patrick Keith Murray (I think) who was a main landowner of an area near Perth, but this was not confirmed.
Hopefully, the latest information will be included for posterity in a future issue of the PCC Newsletter. It would also be very usuful to get the weight checked under shortwave UV to see if it is a pre-1956 or later item, but being made by Vincent, it can only be as late as 1965.
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As I recall, the McClarens were there from the very beginning, very sad those negatives being lost. It would have given us so much.
So I like the theory that something commemorates those guys! :) Sadly history is more ruthless.
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Hi Kev
An article was already planned! Here is a short wave UV image comparing it with an early Strathearn (top left) and a 1971 Perthshire Xmas weight (top right). The PKM weight is much less bright, and the slight blue you see is reflected from the other two. The basic fluorescence of the PKM is murky yellow-green, as seen across the middle of the weight. (As you know, I hate these subjective descriptions of fluroescence colours: they are a bit like wine tasting notes....two people can have very different interpretations of the same thing....but I have nothing better to offer without very expensive equipment).
Alan
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/rosismum/UVSStrPerVas.jpg
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I agree with Alan's reservations about fluorescence colour descriptions - particularly for the difficult-to-name colour of some Scottish weights from the 70s and later.
However, the comparison image does it job well - the PKM weight does not show as a clear blue colour and therefore my view is that is pre-1956 Vasart. But I won't go so far as to say it could be 1930s - the proof of that type of weight from pre-war years is almost non-existant.
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Alan
You won't believe this, but I have just got back into the office after a stroll round town (Rump steak and caramelised red onion baguette - yummy), passed the market and picked up from a stall a very similar weight. Blue base, 6 complex canes at 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, oclock with stencilled PKM at 6 oclock, and a centre with 6 canes round a centre. Slightly flattened, ground out pontil and firepolished, slightly grey glass. . Cannot compare it with yours since work laptop disables hosting sites. Will have another look on wifes laptop tonight
Will put up a picture when I have the chance
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Martin
Catherine Rae did say to me she thought there might have been two or three of these! But what a coincidence.
Alan
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And here you are
Snap!.
Actually my canes are more complex than yours!!
Seriously, same stencil. same layout ,same base.
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The PKM weight I referred to above was actually an image sent to me by somebody in America in early 2004 (or late 2003). From a copy I still have in a document on my pc, here's what it looks like:
- Mottled dark blue ground.
- Central motif of three rows of canes.
Inner ring of 5 canes each with yellow coating around blue 8-point daisy, around tiny core cane of orange over yellow over blue with white central rod. Then 5 "squashed" open-centred pale "grey-purple-ish" daisy canes set one to each outside junction of inner ring canes. Followed by 11 purple-over-white daisy canes set with some form of complex cane to their centre.
- Outer edge of weight has 6 canes identical to inner row (Yellow-Blue-Orange etc) spaced in same way as the other two weights shown here. "PKM" letterig set in same position as other two and formed in the same way.
- Several air bubbles throughout the dome.
If I can find the original email, I will contact the person and see if there's any more info on it.
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Hi all
I have started doing a few articles for the NPS Gather (for those who do not know this is the publication issued periodically by the Northern Paperweight Society). I would like to do one on this weight, (as one of the examples is mine). In doing the articles I intend to plagiarise extensively and ruthlessly!. Actually, there is some good comment above so I want o quote the research/anecdotal evidence etc. Alan T, can I use your photo? Everyone else ok with this?
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Martin, I am happy for any of my comments above to be used - but only if they are kept in full context. For example, if you make use of my "pre-56" thoughts based on UV result, then please ensure that my comment doubting "1930s" is also included.
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Hi Martin
No problem - quite happy for you to use the image.
Alan
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Some of the McClaren photos are included in the article
scotlandsglass.co.uk...a-day-in-scotland-john-moncrieff-ltd (http://www.scotlandsglass.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=213:a-day-in-scotland-john-moncrieff-ltd&catid=24:john-moncrieff-limited&Itemid=13)
So they also covered Moncrieff, not certain but I believe they started in late 40s after the war. Perth Museum lists them as c1940-1960 which narrows the dates.
Just googled and found some great news from Perth Museum... June 2011
P K McLaren worked for his father's photographic business Starphotos initially but from about 1945 he had set up his own business as a commercial photographer of high calibre. Perth Museum & Art Gallery has about 5000 of his negatives from the 1950s and 60s. Two volunteer workers have been transcribing his card based records in readiness for computerising these for easier access.