Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: lajapeters on January 09, 2011, 06:07:50 PM
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Hi,
I am in need of some help, I have been collecting paperweights for a few years now but I am not very knowledgeable, I am need of someone who can identify some for me, I understand if the bottoms show a mark where the glass has been snapped off they are older than others as they now grind them but would also be interested in knowing who has made them and if they are worth anything. I will send photos via email if anyone can help or click on below link please.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lajpeters/Paperweights?authkey=Gv1sRgCMrQ993_nOuDUA#
regards
Lee Peters
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Hello Lee, welcome to the Board.
With my moderator hat on, I have removed your first post as this one repeats the basic information.
With my "collector" hat on, I can say ...
a) Polished versus "snapped off"
It is not true that items with a pontil mark (snapped off the rod) are always older than those finished with grinding or polishing. It was generally true that in the 18th century English drinking glasses (and other items) usually had a simple "snapped off" foot or base but from the 19th century onwards, both styles have been used for all sorts of glass items.
b) Identity of the weights
Photos 1 & 2 - No idea
Photo 3 - Modern Chinese mid 20th century to current
Photos 4 & 5 - Murano probably mid 20th century (one of the "better" companies, but hard to say which)
Photo 6 - Either Vasart (1956 to 1964) or Strathearn (1964 to 1980)
Photo 7 - Murano probably mid 20th century
Photo 8 - Modern Chinese
Photo 9 - Murano - not sure of dating or possible company, but an unusual design
Photos 10 & 11 - No idea
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1 and 2 might be Caithness, but I would expect it to be marked in some way
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1 is Caithness - a pebble weight - very contemporary, possibly still being made in Crieff by Dartington - I'm sure I've seen them there, as well as elsewhere. I'm not sure they're as fastidious about marking now it's Dartinton - I think they might just come with sticky labels, unless they're something very special.
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I have just noticed the bottom of the first i think says caithness on it
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1 is Caithness - a pebble weight - very contemporary, possibly still being made in Crieff by Dartington - I'm sure I've seen them there, as well as elsewhere. I'm not sure they're as fastidious about marking now it's Dartinton - I think they might just come with sticky labels, unless they're something very special.
I have just noticed it says caithness on the bottom
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Hello Lee, welcome to the Board.
With my moderator hat on, I have removed your first post as this one repeats the basic information.
With my "collector" hat on, I can say ...
a) Polished versus "snapped off"
It is not true that items with a pontil mark (snapped off the rod) are always older than those finished with grinding or polishing. It was generally true that in the 18th century English drinking glasses (and other items) usually had a simple "snapped off" foot or base but from the 19th century onwards, both styles have been used for all sorts of glass items.
b) Identity of the weights
Photos 1 & 2 - No idea
Photo 3 - Modern Chinese mid 20th century to current
Photos 4 & 5 - Murano probably mid 20th century (one of the "better" companies, but hard to say which)
Photo 6 - Either Vasart (1956 to 1964) or Strathearn (1964 to 1980)
Photo 7 - Murano probably mid 20th century
Photo 8 - Modern Chinese
Photo 9 - Murano - not sure of dating or possible company, but an unusual design
Photos 10 & 11 - No idea
KEV, DO YOU KNOW THE VALUE OF ANY OF THE PAPERWEIGHTS?
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:hi: Hi Lee, welcome to the board. :thup:
Before someone bounces on you, can I ask you not to post all in capitals please - it's consider to be the internet equivalent of shouting and upsets some folks who consider it bad manners. More here if you want to know the ins and outs. http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,30896.0.html Ta! :thup:
Enjoy the board! :rah:
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Values can only be given in the broadest terms. So much depends on condition, desirability, rarity, even size or particular elements within an item such as a particular millefiori cane, or an unusual colour variation in an abstract design. Also, there can be substantial differences in "values" for insurance purposes, auction expectations (as a basis for estimates), resale by general dealers, resale by specialist dealers.
Many people in the GMB therefore do not like to comment on values and I usually fall into that group. However, I feel safe enough in commenting on some general resale or auction hopes ...
The general Chinese weights are often offered in "antiques and collector fairs" at anything from £2 to £30. Whether they are actuially sold at the asking price is another matter. General Murano weights can be found in auctions and fairs for around £20 to £50 but better quality ones can be more expensive. Vasart and Strathearn weights are very difficult to assess these days because several collectors have been happy to pay increasing prices, but the smaller ones with basic millefiori patterns really ought to be no more than £10 or £20 at an auction or fair.
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hi kev,
the first one is definately caithness i have seen the mark on the bottom etched on, do you know the possible value of it?
regards
Lee
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You won't be retiring!
I'm fairly sure they're about £10, brand new, in the shop. Obviously, as soon as you walk out of the shop with your purchase, it's only worth what somebody else would give you for it - probably a good bit less.
But as already said, we don't really discuss "value" or prices of pieces here. This is not the purpose of the gmb.
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I'd be delighted to get anywhere near £10 for a Caithness pebble! I think the going rate may be nearer £1.....
Alan
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I'm sure it would cost the makers more than £1 to make it - in terms of paying the glassmakers, shop staff, rent, rates, materials, equipment and fuel.
Brand new in the shop and the secondary market are completely different things.
And if folk don't buy new, they will go out of business.
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Agreed, Sue.
The problem is that there are already many, many Caithness paperweights in circulation: I don't know if anyone has calculated it, but I suspect approaching half a million...... and maybe more So there is bound to be a considerable sized - and low priced - second hand market when that many are produced.
I do wonder whether the previous management of Caithness thought about this problem before they suffered all their problems.
Alan
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Hi Alan and Sue
I think even 500,000 Caithness weights is an UNDER estimate!
At their peak say 1990 - 2000 they were running with 18 chairs and employed 160 on the glass side at Perth alone - this excludes the shop and cafe and were making in the order of 150,000 paperweights PER YEAR. And for the rest of the time - nearly another 30 years there were not exactly idle so even if we averaged these years out at just 50,000 per year thats another 1,500,000 - so a grand total in the region of 3 million paperweights!
As Alan says with potentially this number on the secondary market is not surprising that unlimited weights especially fetch only a tiny fraction of their issue price.
Best regards
Derek
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One should also remember that the quality of Caithness weights is exceptionally high, and the variety astronomical.
The quantity does not signify lack of quality - there are enough to go around for different collectors all over the world. ;D