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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Glassheart on August 27, 2011, 01:58:28 PM

Title: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
Post by: Glassheart on August 27, 2011, 01:58:28 PM
Hi all,

Recently acquired this paperweight, what intrigued me was the explosion of colours and millefiori canes in the bed.  I understand this is a 'Fountain' design, would anyone hazard a guess as to the the identfication/maker of this weight?  It measures about 3"x3" with a smooth cut base.

Many thanks, Monty
Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
Post by: m1asmithw8s on August 27, 2011, 02:27:17 PM
I dont know who made it but someone will recognize those canes. That's a good one.
Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
Post by: Glassheart on August 27, 2011, 02:51:29 PM
Thanks, it is very pretty !
Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
Post by: Frank on August 27, 2011, 09:32:36 PM
A couple of those canes suggest Ysart Brothers...
Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
Post by: KevinH on August 27, 2011, 10:07:16 PM
Hi Monty,

The design of your weight is not a "Fountain". It is a "Double Harlequin" and of a form that was first made by Paul Ysart in the 1930s. But I think this one may have been made by Salvador Ysart, not Paul!

As I was replying Frank made a good observation about the canes. The canes that are clearly visible in your photos do indeed match with what are usually said to be Vasart canes (from the Ysart Brothers Glass period 1946 - 1956). However, many "early Vasart" canes can be found in certain types of pre-war Monart bottle stoppers, so the canes in your weight could easily have been made in the pre-war Ysart years.

It is the overall look of the weight that suggests Salvador's work to me. However, from a top view, looking straight down, and from a bottom view looking square on to the base, many people would say this is by Paul Ysart! Also, the fact that the upper layer is set on a white ground is something that ties in with several examples of this design made by Paul. But whether the white layer is actually formed the same way as those I have seen in Paul's work cannot be confirmed from the above photos.

If possible I would like to see photos of:
  • All the canes - a series of shots around the lower section and four closeup shots looking down on sections of the upper layer
  • A straight-on side view, similar to a view you have already given but with the top and base of the weight fully in view
  • A closeup shot of the underside of the white layer
  • Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on August 28, 2011, 08:27:08 AM
    Wow!  Thanks Kev.  Very very interesting indeed.  A good find then?  Found it yesterday in an Antiques centre just sitting on a shelf gathering dust.  I was drawn in by the intense colours and design.  The weight does show signs of wear with some bruising and nicks & scratches to the base, but it was still too fascinating to leave alone!

    I will get some more pictures up for you later on this afternoon.  I apologise for the size of the pics, unfortunately I can't get anything bigger due to the resolution of my camera and the attachment size restrictions

    Many Thanks,

    Monty :hiclp:
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on August 28, 2011, 02:21:22 PM
    Hi Kev,

    More pics as requested.
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on August 28, 2011, 02:26:10 PM
    ...And some more
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on August 28, 2011, 02:28:22 PM
    ...yet more!
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on August 28, 2011, 02:30:15 PM
    ...And finally...that should do it.  Let me know if these are any good or if you need even more!  Regards Monty
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: KevinH on August 28, 2011, 11:44:27 PM
    Thanks, Monty.

    The photos are good and clearly show that there are no "regular Paul Ysart canes" anywhere in the weight. By that I mean I have seen none of those canes appearing frequently in Paul's items, although one or two might be found very occasionally in his work.

    The ground is formed as a "thick" section, has "sharp" edges and is very uneven in its shape. That is not in keeping with Paul's usual style. The "legs" between the layers are very uneven and seem to hang in various directions. Again, that does not tie in well with Paul being the maker.

    The white ground to the upper layer is thicker than most of the equivalent Paul Ysart white grounds that I have seen - but I do have a large, domed, true "Fountain" design (first image here (http://www.btinternet.com/~kevh.glass/pages/catalog/py-fountain-harlequin.htm)), which is very likely a 1930s piece and made by Paul (it has some canes that match to signed weights), and this has a fairly thick looking and rather uneven white ground. So I can't say for sure that the white ground in your weight is not like Paul's work.

    On balance I would attribute this one to Salvador Ysart, and until there is good evidence to the contrary, I would say it was made in the Ysart Brothers period (but the flat polished base is an unusual feature and might suggest pre-war).

    I don't get jealous of other folks' weights ... but I could be a little envious about this one from an academic viewpoint. :)
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Frank on August 29, 2011, 12:20:51 AM
    Could the base have been polished later as a repair? They certainly had the equipment to polish fully but mostly lacked the time and inclination.
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: KevinH on August 29, 2011, 12:53:05 AM
    It's a possibilty, Frank.

    But I have a weight that is "obviously" by Salvador and it has a smooth polished base, including a smooth polished concave pontil area, that does not appear to be repair work.

    On the other hand, I have another weight which I also attribute to Salvador and has a fully flat polished base, but for which I do wonder if it is a repair polish - mainly because of the shape of the dome and the way the outer canes tend to disappear when viewed in top-down mode.
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: chriscooper on August 29, 2011, 10:38:19 AM
    Hi Monty, just like to add what a beautiful weight.

    Chris :mrgreen:
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: pooleandpaperweights on August 29, 2011, 04:20:29 PM
    In the first set of pictures, the one of the base there appears to be a shape of what i suspect is glue from a label.  If so, is it a label from the antiques centre, or does it match with a known label from the Ysarts?

    nice weight though, always love a good find in an antiques centre or fair!

    Ian
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on August 29, 2011, 07:16:45 PM
    Thanks Kev, great analysis!  Very interesting stuff!  Excuse my 'naivety' - because of the 'roughness' un-Paul-like finish could it be a piece from anyone of his or Salvador's apprentices???  Sorry my Ysart knowledge is very limited, so I don't know if any of their apprentices produced weights alongside them?

    As for the base, I have no idea if it's polished but there are many scratches and glass 'scars' - so perhaps a proper polish would have got rid of these - no idea  :huh:!!!

    Ian, I don't think those are glue marks - just scratches and wear(small glass scar) I've examined carefully and definitely not glue or stickers marks.  

    Chris, thanks - The more I look at it the more I see it's beauty :-[ !!!

    Monty
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on September 04, 2011, 07:44:28 PM
    Hi all again,
    I am contemplating selling the paperweight on the well known auction site.  Would anyone hazard a guess at the price a 'Salvador Ysart' weight would fetch?  I can only see Paul Ysart paperweights selling, hardly any Salvador ones as Kev reckons it is.

    Any ideas?  I would like the weight to go to a avid collector and a loving home to someone who would appeciate it more than me. 

    Many thanks, Monty
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: KevinH on November 17, 2011, 10:58:00 PM
    Pleae see the Market Place forum for info on the sale of this weight.
    Title: Re: Multi-coloured 'Fountain' & Millefiori canes Paperweight for ID
    Post by: Glassheart on November 18, 2011, 05:28:55 PM
    Thanks Kev for moving this to the correct forum,
    Regards M