A few comments for the record, based on my latest findings and re-thinking on some past ideas:
Dave said:
... a Harlequin style paperweight made by Salvador Ysart and Kev Fluoursced this to the 1930's ...
Although some folk have claimed a UV result that can distinguish between pre- and post-war Ysart ietms, it is not something I have confirmed for myself. I only ever state that an item is "early" meaning it is before 1956 (for Vasart) or before 1963 (for Paul's work). Some weights stated as "early Vasart" could feasibly be 1930s but as yet I have no definite proof of this.
And also:
It is intersting that Salvador used this Harlequin bubbles design well before Paul ...
Hmm, I wouldn't go as far as that in my assumptions. Certainly, Dave's Harlequin is of a style that is usually stated to be by Paul, but there are known Harlequin weights by Paul that show all the features of 1930s production. So, if Dave's weight was a 1930s piece, maybe Salvador did make it but was copying something that Paul had already done? Or maybe it was made by Paul !! ?? Personally, I think the weight is likely to be an early Vasart from the 1940s or early 1950s.
What I have evidence for is the use of the some canes in "Vasart" items which are also found in some of Paul's weights, either from the 1930s (attributed by usual visual factors of "dark glass" and form of pontil scar, etc.) or post-war. It is this fact, together with diffrent base finishes [the way stress lines are formed from the cutting-in prior to removal from the punty iron], that suggests the possibility of millefiori weights by Salvador in the pre-war period. (There is evidence, however, from family items, that Salvador made "European-style upright flower" weights in the 1930s.)
And this ties in somewhat with what Frank said:
The cup in the Perth Museum is stated to be 1920's but I think Kevin was unable to verfy that.
True ... I can't verify it. But the canes in that cup are of a different structure than any I have so far seen in any paperweights. It is the same with the very few canes I have seen in early (1920s) Monart wares. One of the ex-Ian Turner vases had a selection of canes that were fairly visible in terms of colour and structure. These, like the ones in the cup, were different from regular Vasart (or Paul) canes. One of my thoughts was that those very early canes may have come from France - or they may have been pulled at the Moncrieff works ... we just don't really know.
Regarding the millefiori picture frames ... yes, there were two, one with a photo of Salvador and the other his wife Enriqueta. Catherine, daughter of Vincent & Catherine, now has these and she shows them on occasion when she does a talk, such as she gave at a paperweight club meeting in the north of England a while back. I am sure I have personal photos of these somewhere but I can't find them (%&£*) and anyway, I promised Catherine that I wouldn't publish them. When (if!) I find the pics, I will comment on the canes used.