Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: Zatzafrazz on October 29, 2008, 01:44:38 AM
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This is a large paperweight. It measures just under 4" (across not around) Has a large, central lilly shaped flower (white with green flecks) the center flower is surrounded four smaller white and red orchids that each have one large bubble rising out of it. Rough, slightly concave pontil that has been snapped off. It's pretty heavy too.
Any ideas on how old it is and who the possible maker is. I'm seriously considering buying it and would appreciate any insight you can offer.
Thanks in advance for any help!!
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0003.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0004.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0005.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0007.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0001.jpg
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I looks maybe Bohemian to me and it has a major fracture running through the entire weight. It's too bad because it's a neat looking paperweight.
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Are you sure that's a fracturs? It looks like it was made that way.
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Darn this tiny keyboard, I meant "fracture".
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For a better idea of the "fracture", photos taken at an angle, looking down from top to side and also up from bottom to side, would be useful. If it is not a fracture, then the side view picture would suggest an angled "torus" (air bubble) all around the design - and that would be very unusual, particularly for that type of weight!
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Does it intersect any of the bubbles or flowers in the weight? Is it a thin mirrorlike layer that shows some rainbowy reflections?
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Yes, it definately intersects some of the flowers and one of the bubbles. It seems to flow over them like water. I don't see any rainbows or prisms reflecting from it either. I will upload and post some pictures.
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Here are some more pictures. Hope these help.
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0008.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0009.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0010.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0011.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0012.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0111Pictures0013.jpg
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That's definitely a fracture.
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It goes right through the weight. If it was a fracture wouldn't have inturrupted some of the flowers and air bubbles? It looks like it flows around them and the flowers come out of it. it also appears to be molded to one of the flowers.
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The fracture flows with the 'grain' of the glass. The design of the weight is accomplished with a pick so some areas are a little more compressed and dense so the fracture travels along the path of least resistance which is around the design in some places.
I have a very large collection of paperweights and have been collecting them for years. I've had a couple weights develop fractures like this. It's usually due to improper annealing or the piece being subjected to too extreme a temperature ie. sitting in the sun on a windowsill.
I have one Italian weight that is showing signs of a fracture traveling between the layer with the design and the outer layer. I have an American weight with a fracture that travels in six directions almost in a snowflake like manner.
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Here are 3 more photos/images of the fracture. Please take a look. Let me know if you still think it's a fracture. I really think I am going to buy it. Even if it is damaged, because I really like it. At least I'm getting ripped-off with my eyes wide open this time. No regrets later :chky:
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0112Pictures0001.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0112Pictures0003.jpg
http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr308/Zatzafrazz/2008_0112Pictures0004.jpg
Thanks!!
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Yup it's a fracture.
But the paperweight does look pretty old and interesting. Haggle with the seller and let them know it's cracked and maybe you can get a good deal.
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:cry: The shopkeeper won't give me discount!! (I asked for 50% off) he insists that it isn't fractured. He is claiming that it is designed that was so you don't see the unsightly bottom of the weight when you view it from front or the side. And he seems right because you can look at it from the bottom and see right through the whole weight. But when you view it from the top you can only see to the fracture and it reflects silvery like a mirror. Is this typical of a fracture? Tell me true because I am this close to paying full price!! I'm weak!
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Hi, this is a standard paperweight fracture that shows up most frequently with older weights,
I own several paperweights with this kind of fault. These fractures are easy for collectors to spot,
but can be mistaken for something else by someone not versed in paperweights.
The silvery sheen is what you expect to see when a fracture is present.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is a fracture.
It is most assuredly not designed that way, and happened due to either improper annealing as Glasstruffle pointed out,
or some kind of external stress ( ie temperature swings, falling off shelf etc.)
Glass is a very interesting material and behaves strangely sometimes, you can have all kinds of fractures throught a
paperweight yet it stays in one piece, and might not show any surface faults at all.
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That mirrorlike reflection from fractures is actually very pretty.
The paperweight seems old from the wear on the base but I can't tell just how old. I wouldn't go above 25 for it.
I am a cheapskate. ;D
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THANK YOU!! I'm am going down to that shop. I am buying that weight. And I am going to pay half price! He is not going to pull the wool over my eyes.
Are there any good reference books on paperweights? this will be the fourth one I've bought and I keep seeing more that I want, so I guess it's a hobby for me now. I should at least be able to tell fracture from design. Especially since i am most drawn to the older weights.
I'll be right back with my weight!
:thup:
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I have three that I like:
A classic is Paul Hollister's The Encyclopedia of Glass Paperweights. He covers the antique makers and makes brief mention of modern makers. He wrote the book before the current paperweight renaissance took off.
Paperweights of the World by Monika Fleming and Peter Pommerencke has superb photos of both antique and modern paperweights.
My favourite book is The Art of the Paperweight by Lawrence Selman. Lots of beautiful photos of antique and modern as well as pictures of paperweights being made. This book is quite expensive but keep your eyes peeled on eBay. I found mine for 25.
You will drool, drool, drool looking at the 2nd and 3rd books especially.
Other board members will have favourites they recommend as well.
Collect the books like you do the paperweights: Having a shelf full of them can only help you.
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Are there any good reference books on paperweights?
Yes, there are many! For a quick look at an easy to browse list, go to the book page at Sweetbriar Gallery (http://www.sweetbriar.co.uk/bookslist.php?maker=General). You will see that some of the books are quite expensive, while others are very reasonably priced. Also check out sites like Amazon with a search for "paperweights".
If you have a good library nearby, you may be able to browse some paperweight books and get an idea of the different types of content.
The book Paperweights, Historicism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, 1840-Present by Peter Von Breckel is the only one that I know which illustrates lots of older European weights. It includes examples like the one discussed here. The book is an excellent reference but is not cheap (US $70 when new in 1999).
Maybe I will think about putting some paperweight book reviews in the "Glass Books" forum?
As for the weight with the fracture (yes - it's a fracture - no doubt about it), I hope that you are able to buy it at a fair price (i.e. very cheap) as it will be a good reference piece. That type of weight is very likley Bohemian / Czechoslovakian from later 19th century to early 20th century (c1890 to c1920), but broadly similar weights have been made elsewhere.
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The book Paperweights, Historicism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, 1840-Present by Peter Von Breckel is the only one that I know which illustrates lots of older European weights. It includes examples like the one discussed here. The book is an excellent reference but is not cheap (US $70 when new in 1999).
reference piece. That type of weight is very likely Bohemian / Czechoslovakian from later 19th century to early 20th century (c1890 to c1920), but broadly similar weights have been made elsewhere.
I've got an extensive collection of paperweight books but this one is new to me. Also I find no reference to it on Amazon.com nor any hits on Google. What can you tell me about the publisher or any source likely to have a copy available?
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Oops - I spelt the author's name incorrectly. It's Brackel, not Breckel :spls:
Peter Von Brackel's book was published in 1999 by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-7643-1052-6
I agree that there seem to be no copies currently available via regular internet sources - but it can be purchased directly from Schiffer Publishing (http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/) - search on the Author name or ISBN and it should show as being available. Price is original 1999 one: $69.95 (if you are in the USA, otherwise they will send an email confirming actual cost)
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Hi
Books - if you go to this link (http://astore.amazon.co.uk/collectorssite-21) and then the Paperweights section you will find 25 books on paperweights presently in print and available, including Peter von Brackel's book. Some of these are available second hand at attractive prices.
Alan
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Von Brackel's book is available on Amazon.com for $53
Another good starter book is Paperweights by Sibylle Jargstorf, it covers mainly European makers,
with good examples of Bohemian millefiori weights, the usual French makers, British makers, Murano etc.
If you're interested in US antique weights then Hawley's book on Sandwhich and New England Glass Company is
well worth looking into.
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Hi Alexander
My link actually takes you to Amazon - it is just that most of the searching has already been done, and the various paperweight books brought together in one location to make life easier.
Alan
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:thup:
Got it! for only $15!!! After that man refused to sell it to me for a discount 3 times, his wife and I looked at it under a magnifying glass, and sure enough it is a fracture and you can see that clearly in one spot. She agreed to sell it to me at their cost which was even less then 50%!! I don't think they were trying to rip anyone off. They just didn't know it was a fracture either.
Thanks for all of the advice on books!! There sure is a lot of them, isn't there? I think that the idea to rate books is a good one. Bookstores will order out of print books for you if you don't mind paying retail for them.
There also some good sites on the internet if you look under "glass paperweight" history. There's also good education right here too. I'm sure to be back!! Maybe in about 50 years I'll know enough to actually give advice ;D
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Sorry, in all my excitement, I forgot to thank you guys for all of your help!!! Thank you all so much for your totally honest opinions. You're all great!!
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Excellent!
Some years ago I bought a Bohemian 'three flowers in a pot' weight. It has a huge bullseye chip on one side but I still thought it was neat. I think I paid 15 for it too. It sits in one of my cabinets with Murano, American and Scottish paperweights that I obtained subsequently.
I still think it's a neat piece, bullseye and all.