Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Resolved Paperweight Queries => Topic started by: Leni on December 19, 2004, 09:28:10 AM
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Hello all,
I just bought this paperweight on eBay because I thought it was just *Soooo* beautiful! :D
Now I wonder if anyone here might have any idea where it was made. Not that I care really, I just love it anyway, but I'm curious.
And if anyone does know, can you help or advise me on how to to learn the clues for identifying something like this?
I understand there are canes which are characteristic of particular makers or glass houses, and that's somewhat easier to learn, but with a scrambled weight like this I'm a bit lost.
I'd be most grateful if someone could help me :)
Leni
(http://tinypic.com/xsgth)
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more than likely a.ve.m murano
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if the bottom is polished smooth it could be Avenm tutti-frutti from the 50s. If the bottom is course it would be Chinese lookalike....
i.
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> Clues for identifying something like this
Hmm. I'll keep my thoughts focussed on just the "Scrambled" design weights.
If you can find a copy, I would suggest buying (or just browsing) Paperweights by Sibylle Jargstorf, published by Schiffer 1991. This book shows a good range of worldwide paperweights and includes "scrambled" designs from Venice, Murano & France.
From a paperweight collectors' viewpoint there is a distinction between 19th century Italian weights (known as "Venetian") and the whole vast range of 20th century weights (known generally as "Murano").
One point is that a scrambled weight from 19th century Italy will have rather better worked twist canes than the 20th century examples. By this I mean that the 20th century ones - such as the probable / possible A.V.E.M. weight pictured here - have quite large, flattened twists, usually in single colours of pink or blue or yellow, and can have gold aventurine to the edges. The 19th century ones have tightly twisted canes in (mainly?) red, white and blue on the same cane. Aventurine is also included but as separate pieces.
The point about rough ground bases (course) indicating Chinese "lookalike" is valid, but 19th century Italian scrambled weights also have this feature, but perhaps not quite so "course".
If you find a weight that looks roughly similar to the one shown here except that it has the "tight twists" I mentioned, and may also include very tidy whole or part millefiori canes, it might by French, not Italian! And it might be also be modern, not 19th century.
Basically it's not too easy to Id some of these weights without a known example for comparison.
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Thanks very much KevH. I did suspect it might be Murano, but from the pictures it does appear to have a rough-ish base (Yes, I haven't actually got it yet - only 'won' it yesterday!) so I guess it might be Chinese.
I love it anyway - the colours are so scrummy I could eat it! :D
I will definitely try to get hold of the Paperweights book you mention. I do have a copy of the Miller's Paperweight book, but must admit I find it frustratingly basic!
It may be terribly unsophisticated, but I guess I'll just go on buying things I like the look of, regardless of whether they are 'names' or not :wink:
Thanks again to all :)
Leni
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It may be terribly unsophisticated, but I guess I'll just go on buying things I like the look of, regardless of whether they are 'names' or not :wink:
I would suggest that yours IS the sophisticated approach!
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>I would suggest buying (or just browsing) Paperweights by Sibylle Jargstorf
Thanks for the advice KevH. I have ordered the book from Amazon :)
Incidentally, are UK people aware that one can buy books at about half the price on Amazon.com as on Amazon.co.uk? Even with shipping! :o
I have done a little investigating and from what I have seen I am more and more convinced the weight is AVeM. Thanks to the 'Guest's who gave me the name!
Also, my investigations lead me to believe that a Morano Crown weight I have owned for some years may also be by AVeM!
I really like this website, and all you lovely knowledgeable people! :D
Leni
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There is nothing better than buying what you like the look of, so long as you think the price is reasonable. Fashions change and as soon as someone writes a book expanding awareness of a particular field prices rise! So stick with your gut instinct and buy it if you like it.....and bear in mind that the Chinese and the Mexicans are getting better every year anyway.
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Paperweight arived this morning. Almost certainly an AVeM Tutti Frutti, I would think.
Yes, it's a bit of a hodge-podge, but it's a very pretty hodge-podge and didn't cost too much, so I'm a happy bunny :D
Thanks to all who posted comments :)
Leni