Just a couple of comments. I do appreciate the input and I love the turn the thread is taking
The key factor here is that the weight is beautiful. Quite exquisite. As always, photographs don't capture the beauty. The light blue petals in the flower are utterly flawless. The sharpness of the glass, the lay of the green leaves all indicate somebody with talent made this weight. Mark (m1asmithw8s) indicates he has others in his private collection and I can accept that there are other examples of these Schneider pedestal flowers in the marketplace.
Which brings us to that vital question. Whoever made this weight is either a Schneider working somewhere, most likely Murano -- perhaps as I have stated an Italian-German or an Italian-Swiss -- or he or she has knowledge of paperweights made by a Schneider. But if Charles Schneider (of France's Galle and Daum) never made pedestal weights, then who the heck is this talented faker faking? Why put a Schneider signature - ever so faintly - in a gorgeous work of glass art like this if there is no sourced reference to these weights?
As for Simone's comment that Muranese companies are outsourcing work to China, I will go with Mark's very determined comments, made back in March and April in very long threads about Chinese weights and that whole messy situation, that glass factories on Murano are not doing it. I agree with his sharp perception that it would be pointless and makes no sense. Those two threads are headed: "Murano versus Chinese weights" and "A new weight, but I'm baffled as to maker -- any ideas?" Also in one of those threads the name of the legendary EstlinClichy came up. I've been reading the board for about seven months before I joined (time wasn't on my side - my architecture firm was working on a huge project) and I've read EC's comments. Frankly, I question the wisdom of pulling everything he/she wrote, because there were some very salient points being made.
One of the intersting things we are seeing is that -- based on threads herein -- now that eBay's in China, numerous fake auctions are occurring as unscrupulous sellers are finding their way around eBay. And, it's not just paperweights that are being folded into scam online sales. It's practically everything. I guess -- and I sincerely hope this isn't offending anyone -- that we really should be a touch leary of the Chinese behemoth. In fact, one of the posters in this thread had one of his auctions duplicated. This is not a good development and it adds fuel to the anti-Chinese fire.
Anyway, I'm pleased with my superb Schneider (fake or otherwise) pedestal paperweight. Maybe these weights are imported by a person named Schneider and are made on Murano.
Ultimately, these leads us to the big question. If the weight is a superbly crafted work of glass art, does it really matter who made it? Except, of course, when it comes time to sell? Probably. But right now, I'm glad I have it and I'm glad it's a superior glass obejct and I'm very glad it has lead to a thoughtprovoking and intelligent discussion.