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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Oak Leaf on August 09, 2007, 07:27:14 PM

Title: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: Oak Leaf on August 09, 2007, 07:27:14 PM

I bought this on Ebay.  It looks old, but with glass is is hard to determine the age unless you know something about paperweights.  It shows wear like children probably played with it because of all the pretty true shades in it.  True red, true green, true yellow, a vivid cobalt and even an opaque pink that really is pink like Pepto Bismol.  It is on a white ground.  The design itself is a white transfer trapped in a clear gather of glass.  The glass itself is quite clear with no discoloration. The base is course ground flat.  The grinding is a little off center to make the weight sit level.

(http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10358/Elk_Rock_1.JPG)

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: paperweights on August 10, 2007, 02:05:15 AM

Let's see a picture of the bottom.  Right now I am willing to guess that it was made by Gentile Glass of Star City, West Virginia.  They made a lot of frit weights like this for different organizations.

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: Oak Leaf on September 20, 2007, 06:54:15 PM

I decided to try the lick test upon learning that Gentiles are made from soda lime glass.  They exhale a salt vapour.  I licked a Gentile then licked a Murano.  The Gentile tastes a tad salty, the Murano does not.  I noticed that the Elk weight shares something in common with my Gentiles.  It has a nasty habit of getting dirty quickly like they.  So i subjected it to the lick test.  It tastes salty.  It must be a Gentile.  It also of a very dense nearly sugar free glass like my Gentiles.

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: Frank on September 20, 2007, 10:04:27 PM

Interesting discussion on this sodium leakage here http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,395.0.html

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: KevinH on September 20, 2007, 11:25:51 PM

If it looks like a Gentile, gets "dirty" like a Gentile, and tastes like a Gentile, then ... ???

But as "paperweights" has requested, a photo of the base would help to clarify the matter. The base finish is often an important factor in attribution for many paperweights. As is the profile.

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: m1asmithw8s on September 20, 2007, 11:40:01 PM

Allan's Gentile attribution is likely correct based on the design of the weight.
Looking forward to side & bottom views to help confirm.
I've had the same experiences with many a Gentile weight in the terms of the salty, vinegary film the glass seems to sweat out over time.
I've noticed the same phenomena with many modern Chi weights and some Murano weights too.
Thanks to frank for those links which lead to quite a bit of informative dialogue.

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: glasstrufflehunter on September 21, 2007, 06:48:30 AM

I noticed that 'fog' on one of my new Chi weights just yesterday. They've gone and changed the formulation of the glass. Now it's much clearer -except when they need wiping off.  ;D

Title: Re: Old Elk Weight Age?
Post by: Oak Leaf on September 21, 2007, 07:58:30 PM

I don't have a working camera at the moment for taking pictures.  Bottom is not like the newer Gentiles.  It is course ground.  The pontil mark has been ground completely off.