Topic: Old Swirl paperweight

[donaldf]

Hello All, This one has me puzzled ! It is 54mm diameter, it has two swirls, one rising up from the base, and another flat disc swirl positioned on top of the lower swirl. The central cane does not look familiar to me. The base is polished flat (no wear ring). it has not been restored in any way. The glass has a grey tinge and is not very clear. Has anyone seen anything like it?

Don

[donaldf]

Hello All. It seems that it is not only me that is stumped by this one !
Don

[Hourglass]

A photo of the base could be useful to help identify it.

[KevinH]

Hourglass, the 1st photo shows the base.

[Hourglass]

Sorry Kevin, I should have taken more notice! I would guess Murano, quite a bit of age to it by the wear on it and by the striations in the clear part of the glass above the swirl in the second picture you can see how when it was in the making how the glass has been twisted. A nice weight. I'm surprised that no-one else has come back to you on this one up to now to give their opinion.

[donaldf]

Hiya KevinH and Hourglass, thank you for your input. I had not thought of Murano, but in the hand and close up, it has some, but not all the attributes that one associates with Murano. The colours, red white and blue, suggest it is French or made for the French market, mimicking the clichy swirl. I know it is not a clichy because it lacks the sparkle of Clichy, and the base is polished flat. My hunch is Northern Europe... shame I was not in the shop where it was first sold... I could have asked the shop keeper where it came from . We will have to see if any more hunches are offered up on this puzzle of a weight.
Don

[rocco]

In the Brackel book are some very similar paperweights, attributed to Bohemia/Silesia, late 19th to early 20th century.

Michael

[tropdevin]

***

Hi Don. I am fairly sure these are Old English, though I have never seen one with a cane before.  I have had two pairs, and an odd one, all made in similar fashion, rather like end pieces might be from the manufacture of the red/white/blue 19th century glass rolling pins.

Alan

[paperweights]

Hi Alan and Donald,

Donald--- what is the height? 

Allan-- Would you mind sharing the reasons for your conclusion.  I can see a connection to the Bohemian swirl paperweights from von Brackel's book. 

Allan

[donaldf]

Hello All

Allan. the weight is 38mm high.

I include an extra side on photo where you can see the two parts to the swirl

Don