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Author Topic: date and origin request for opaque weight  (Read 2090 times)

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Offline Paul S.

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date and origin request for opaque weight
« on: November 18, 2011, 05:33:18 PM »
described by the boot sale seller as 'end of day glass' with 'substantial age' - and whilst this looks and sounds plausible, I'd appreciate some second opinions if possible.   Most of the weights I come across in charity shops etc. are see though, with coloured bits inside  -  I have a small collection, but nothing of real interest - and certainly none of mine has a snapped pontil remaining on the base.    Probably not Chinese ;)  -  but would appreciate people's thoughts about possible country of origin and date.     The ground colour is not opaque, completely - when held up to a strong light it shows as a fairly deep purplish brown, and the line running through the top area is in fact a very shallow curving groove.      Approximate dimensions are......height 73mm  -  diameter 94mm.    thanks for looking :)
P.S.    Be interested to know how these things are made please  -  is the shape formed by a mould, or perhaps spun on the iron to produce the roundness

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Offline chopin-liszt

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2011, 07:28:48 PM »
 :hi:
Can't help with id, Paul, but pwts are shaped by hand - with a wad of wet newspaper.
The glass gather is on a rod, (hence the pontil scar) being turned continuously back and forth on the bar at the side of the chair by one of the maker's hands while s/he applies gentle pressure with the wad of wet paper, cupped in their other hand. There is a bucket of water nearby so the paper can be kept wet.
Cheers, Sue M. (she/her)

Earth without art is just eh.

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Offline Paul S.

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2011, 10:17:05 PM »
thank you Sue  -  the moment you mentioned it, the wet newspaper bit rang a bell with me  -  I must have read that somewhere in the past (but not in a newspaper ;)).    They do get the surface very beautifully curved and smooth  -  not perhaps what you might at first think would happen.        I suspect this is not the sort of weight that people are now interested in - probably too old fashioned I guess  -  but as you know, I do rather like these older pieces.    thanks again :)

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Offline stew2u2

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2011, 10:46:26 PM »
hi paul
if you ever get a chance to make your own pw do it. son paid  for my birthday at caithness kings lynne realy enjoyed it. and i now have a priceless weight well its priceless to me.
there is always someone worse off .

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Offline daveweight

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2011, 12:09:18 PM »
I was up north on holiday ion September and called into the National Glass Centre in Sunderland and they have a hot glass studio where you can make your own paperweight, I know they are doing refurbishments sometime next year so if anyone is intereted phone them first to see of the glassworks is open and check the prices but it is a great experience
Dave

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Offline Paul S.

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2011, 02:25:24 PM »
thanks for the DIY suggestions :)  -  but as far as glass goes I must confess to being a collector pure and simple, and probably wouldn't truly appreciate the merits of being an artisan.   However, it's great that there are facilities out there for budding glass blowers and I do see the value of making things so thank people for their comments.

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Offline Frank

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2011, 10:57:19 PM »
Making one weight will not make you an artisan, that takes 7 years, but it would give you a really deep understanding of what you collect.

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Offline Lustrousstone

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Re: date and origin request for opaque weight
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2011, 07:09:02 AM »
Slight  :hj: If anyone has the chance they should go and watch the glassblowing demonstration at World of Glass St Helens; not because what they make is wonderful (it isn't), but because they manage to cram so many techniques into one demo.

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