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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Andy on March 21, 2008, 12:02:06 PM

Title: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on March 21, 2008, 12:02:06 PM
Just picked up a little group of nice paperweights, most signed, this one is very nice,
quite unusual, maybe old? Polished pontil, a few ash inclusions, and striations in the glass,
but the flowers are unusual, ( im no PW expert but seems well made).
Had a few problems with photos, hope these are ok.
Any suggestions??
Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on March 26, 2008, 11:50:13 AM
Just thought id add a few photos. im finding it hard to show the 3d effect on this one.
There are 5 flowers. 4 around the side and one straight up. The stalks start from near the centre.
Each flower is paper thin, made up of many flakes of different colours, the centre of the flower is an
amber covered bubble.
Any help, anyone?
Andy :-\
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: glasstrufflehunter on March 26, 2008, 04:38:01 PM
The 'flower spray' look reminds me of paperweights from India. Generally those have three flower sprays. This could still be from India. The flower shapes are made with a pick which leaves a bubble in the centre. The finishing on the base is different.
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on April 13, 2008, 05:17:05 PM
Thanks gth,
I wonderered if there are any other suggestions, with the pontil as a clue, the flowers appear
paper thin, i would think fairly hard to make, maybe the quality is not too good with the striations,
bubbles and ash in the weight? I cant see much age wear to the base, but the area around the
pontil is difficult to see, it appears to have still been molten and a bit lumpy when finished?

I know it hasnt got any fancy canes, but any other ideas?
Regards
Andy
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: glasstrufflehunter on April 13, 2008, 09:32:19 PM
After studying the pictures and comparing with my Indian weights (I have several) I'm positive this is Indian. With the exception of the hollow grinding on the base it looks Indian to me. The portion of the base that is not ground looks Indian. Two of my Indian weights have very thin sprays. The golden colour in the weight is consistent with what I have seen in Indian weights but I do not have one with that particular colour.

Does the glass have a yellowish cast? A couple of mine do.

Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on April 14, 2008, 01:45:50 PM
hi gth,
thanks again, no yellowish to the glass, just looks like looking into thick liquid with all the
swirls in the glass, its pretty, Indian sounds good to me.
Regards
Andy
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: glasstrufflehunter on April 14, 2008, 06:26:45 PM
It is very pretty. I like the colours and it is much nicer than the usual Indian weight. You got a good 'un.
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: aa on April 15, 2008, 12:59:30 PM
i would think fairly hard to make

Comparatively, very easy to make!
I'm not convinced it's Indian. Looks like studio glass, probably 3rd qtr C20

Flowers are made by laying out frit, picking up the colour, pushing in a spike and then dropping a couple of crystals of silver chloride
into the indentation. The silver chloride creates the yellow bubble and aurora effect when gathered over. The silver chloride also reacts with the coloured frit to create different colours.
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: RAY on April 15, 2008, 04:16:25 PM
the base look's more like it's been fire polished than ground
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on April 16, 2008, 12:30:06 PM
Thanks Adam and Ray,

'Comparatively, very easy to make!'

Adam, easy for you, i cant even wire a plug :D
Could well be a studio piece, as i say, its got a polished pontil, and does look like its had heat
applied to the surround.
Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: aa on April 16, 2008, 12:47:16 PM
Adam, easy for you, i cant even wire a plug :D

http://www.adamaaronson.com/glass.php

Come and do a course and you can make one!
 :)
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on April 16, 2008, 01:09:24 PM
Thanks Adam,
i very well may do that!

Regards
Andy
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on April 18, 2009, 11:33:04 AM
Just had a wander around a little antiques fair, saw a very very similar weight,
with a sticker on it, Thorneycroft art glass.
anyone aware of this artist?

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: KevinH on April 18, 2009, 02:23:13 PM
A search on the Board for Thorneycroft shows a couple of threads:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,17274.msg99647.html#msg99647
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,23635.msg131985.html#msg131985
Title: Re: unusual floral paperweight , polished pontil
Post by: Andy on April 18, 2009, 03:13:15 PM
Thanks Kev,
i googled but forgot to look on here ::)

Thats the same sticker i saw today, and i think mines a good match for style, design and the base :thup:

I think thats a wrap  :clap:  and i shall mark this  one up to A J Thorneycroft  .

Patience is a virtue!
Regards
Andy