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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: kane_u_pain on October 07, 2009, 10:01:21 AM

Title: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: kane_u_pain on October 07, 2009, 10:01:21 AM
Purple & Orange swirl paperweight...has 2 'gouge' like marks to the base...could this be a type of signature???...or just a production flaw???...the marks seem deliberate...not very good with paperweights...is an over sized paperweight...extremely heavy...bought it many years ago from a market...sorry...has a more vibrant colour than the pics show...and not as dirty... :)
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: Cathy B on October 10, 2009, 11:06:49 AM
Hello there, and welcome to the board.

I don't know much about paperweights either, and someone should be along to help further soon, but the marks are nothing to worry about. This is just the pontil mark. See here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontil_mark) for more.

And while we're discussing that Wikipedia link... Is it accurate, and if not, would someone volunteer to improve it? Specifically, the third paragraph might not be correct for all collectable glass. (Maybe bottle collectors refer to impressed marks on the base as pontil marks, but it's not standard practice. Or is it?)
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: kane_u_pain on October 10, 2009, 02:25:13 PM
I hope so cathy... ;D...thanks for the link...was extremely helpful  :hiclp:...i think the 3rd para does need correction/expansion...
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: KevinH on October 11, 2009, 12:52:10 AM
Other messages discussing pontil / punty, within the GMB, can be found by searching for both those words together. Some of the past messages are:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,19621.msg113309.html#msg113309
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,579.msg2518.html#msg2518
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,945.msg4979.html#msg4979

As for para 3 in the Wiki info, I don't know if it's right or not. But I would not be surprised at whatever terms and words have come into vogue via the "collectibles and antiques" industry.
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: aa on October 11, 2009, 08:12:17 AM
The whole Wikipedia entry is extremely inaccurate, not just para 3.
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: Cathy B on October 11, 2009, 11:21:29 AM
 >:D And where it's not wrong, it's confusing. So, does anyone volunteer to correct the public record?

Hey, do they really saw the bottoms off blown pieces to get rid of the pontil marks? :rn:

(Sorry about hijacking your thread, Kane.)
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: Sach on October 11, 2009, 07:43:42 PM
>:D And where it's not wrong, it's confusing. So, does anyone volunteer to correct the public record?

Hey, do they really saw the bottoms off blown pieces to get rid of the pontil marks? :rn:

(Sorry about hijacking your thread, Kane.)

It is one way to do it.  More likely the bottom is ground down to eliminate any marks.

Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: kane_u_pain on October 12, 2009, 05:10:37 AM
Not a problem Cathy LOL...as long as everyone looked at the weights!!!...:24:...
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: aa on October 12, 2009, 06:27:55 AM
Hey, do they really saw the bottoms off blown pieces to get rid of the pontil marks? :rn:

It is one way to do it.  More likely the bottom is ground down to eliminate any marks.


Grinding is almost always necessary after cutting with a diamond saw, so if sawing is used it is only one part of the process.
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: Frank on October 12, 2009, 03:39:03 PM
Added a link to Wiki entry - using the first link that Kev gave above. Much easier than trying to correct the text :nogoss:
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: kane_u_pain on November 02, 2009, 10:09:55 AM
Hoping to get an id...many thanks...
Title: Re: Purple & Orange Swirl Paperweight...
Post by: kane_u_pain on December 20, 2009, 09:28:58 AM
Here are some better pics. The dimensions are 9cm tall and 9am in dia. Still hoping to get an id even if it maybe chinese?  ;D