Paperweights seem to be everywhere these days. From huge crystal diamonds and little collectable animal figurines, to exquisite hand-blown glass objects d’art, the variety is endless.  From trophy & engraving shops and gift shops to the online auction sites and collectors’ websites, one of the only places you’re not likely to see a paperweight is sitting atop a stack of papers.

CRYSTAL PAPERWEIGHTS

                  Crystal paperweights come in a wide variety of shapes and colors.  Basic shapes are cube, rectangle, circle, octagon, and pyramid.  Special shapes are also available.  Hearts make lovely anniversary gifts.  Diamond paperweights are extremely popular for anything wedding or bridal related.  Apples are great for teachers.  A custom paperweight makes a wonderful gift for graduation, Father’s Day, a new birth, a housewarming, anytime you want to express a heartfelt sentiment.

                Crystal paperweights are great for corporate gift-giving as well.  Use to commemorate a milestone, team building, and thank you gifts.  They can be engraved with the company logo as well as text.  Use a logo paperweight for brand/company promotion.  The use of promotional paperweights actually began in the 19^th century, when glass makers started etching, embossing, engraving and painting advertising messages on ashtrays, mirrors, and paperweights.  These small giveaway items are still an effective means of advertising today.  They are not likely to be thrown in the trash like a paper flier, which means they will be seen again and again; perhaps for decades to come.

The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company manufactures English Bone China of the highest quality. The company’s origins reach back to 1750. With more than 250 years of tradition and experience, the quality is evident in every piece of porcelain. The first collection of Royal Crown Derby paperweights was launched in 1981, and consisted of five birds and a rabbit. The popularity was immediate. These beautiful paperweights are now collected worldwide. The collection has become quite extensive, as new designs are introduced yearly. Each piece is hand painted in exquisite detail and gilded with 22-carat gold.

The collection consists of animal figures that would be traditional of the Victorian era. Many are native wildlife species such as rabbits, hedgehogs, badgers and foxes. There are house pets and common farm animals such as the cat, dog, goat, donkey, cow, and pig. One could assemble a fabulous collection consisting only of woodland birds. The exotic animals are reminiscent of the cross-cultural influences that were introduced in mid-nineteenth century England, when British colonial possessions spanned the globe. Zebras, elephants, pandas and polar bears all recall a time when it could be said that “The sun never set on the British Empire.” - Anonymous [1]

GLASS PAPERWEIGHTS

Venice has been considered a glassmaking center as far back as 450 A.D. Despite the decline in glassmaking throughout Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, glassmaking continued to flourish in Italy. There was a Glassmaker’s Guild established in the 13^th century. In 1292 the city of Venice established an ordinance confining all glassmaking to the island of Murano. This was partly to protect the city from fire, and partly to protect their trade secrets.

The oldest documented reference to glass paperweights is from the 15^th century Venetian historian, Sabellico - he described a glass paperweight seemingly filled with tiny wildflowers. [2]

The technique referred to is millefiori, which in Italian means “thousands of flowers.” In this technique, thin rods of white and colored glass are cut crosswise to reveal the inner pattern, which usually resembles a flower. This is one of the oldest techniques employed in glassmaking, and Murano paperweights provide especially fine examples of this technique. The glass canes can be arranged and manipulated to produce many effects within the millefiori paperweight. Close pack clusters, concentric patterns, garland, scramble, mushroom, radiating twists, and crown patterns are some effects you may see.

The years from 1845 through 1860 are known as the Classic Period. The French excelled during this time, copying from both the Venetians and Bohemians. The finest French paperweights from the Classic Period were produced in Baccarat, Clichy, and St. Louis. Other techniques were developed during this period, most notably lampwork and sulphide designs, or cameo incrustations. Lampwork is a technique in which pieces of colored glass are fashioned into shapes. Common themes were flowers, insects, and fruits. Many artisans were so skilled the images look almost real. Sulphide designs involve encasing a small portrait under glass. Although originally conceived in Bohemia in the late eighteenth century, it was the French who actually perfected the technique.

The Contemporary Period began during World War II. During this time, glassmaking processes were completely revolutionized. However, the classic techniques such as millefiori, lampwork and sulphide design remain the same.

[1] The sun never set on the British Empire
because the sun sets in the West
and the British Empire was in the East.

Anonymous Student

http://www.friesian.com/british.htm

[2] “But, consider to whom did it first occur to include in a little ball all the sorts of flowers which clothe the meadows in the Spring.”

http://www.dvpaperweights.org/articles/current.html

Pocket Watches Guide
Trinket Boxes
Paperweights for Decor
The History of Paperweights
Royal Crown Derby Paperweights

Perthshire Paperweights was founded in 1968 in Crieff, Scotland. Perthshire paperweights feature traditional techniques such as millefiori and lampwork. Most weights produced after 1979 feature a single cane with a signature ”P”. Although the company closed in 2002, the Perthshire Collector’s Club website is still operational.

Whitefriars Glass had its beginning in 1834 as James Powell & Sons. The London company started out making stained glass windows for churches. The company went through many changes through the years, and were responsible for many innovations in glassmaking technologies. Whitefriars paperweights were introduced in the late sixties, when their old thermometer drawing tower was converted to making glass millefiori canes. The Whitefriars factory closed in 1980, and the Scottish glassmaker Caithness purchased the trademark “Whitefriars”, which was used exclusively in their range of paperweights. Whitefriars glass is currently enjoying a surge in popularity amongst collectors.

Caithness Glass has been producing beautiful, high quality paperweights since 1969.

Caithness paperweights are known for their innovative, modern designs; incorporating abstract, amorphic shapes and placed bubbles; as well as using traditional techniques in bold new ways. Caithness Paperweights are extremely popular and highly collectable.

ANTIQUE PAPERWEIGHTS

Identifying antique paperweights is extremely difficult. As techniques were developed, glassmakers would copy each others’ designs. Reference books contain inaccuracies. The fact is it takes time, study, and experience. There is a wonderful article about the subject posted on the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Paperweight Collectors Association. [1] If you are interested in collecting antique paperweights, I would recommend doing your research. There is a wealth of information on the internet. Look up collectors Association websites. Look at paperweights on the internet auction sites. Just seeing what’s out there is a good place to start.

[1] How To Identify An Antique Paperweight by Jerry Gard (http://www.dvpaperweights.org/articles/how_to_id.html)