Paperweights

Paperweights made for the collector are of solid glass, generally having a flat base and a domed top, which acts something like a lens to magnify and make the parts within move in an interesting and attractive way as it is handled. more...

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They range in value anywhere from a few dollars to a record of $258,500 once paid for an antique French weight. Thus paperweight collecting is a hobby accessible to those with limited means, as well as those having a passion for rarity in addition to beauty.

What are "paperweights?"

"Paperweight" is something of a misnomer. They rarely hold down any paper--they are rather magnificent examples of fine workmanship of the glass artisan at his best, and are appreciated for their esthetic as opposed to their utilitarian aspect.

Paperweights are made in factories where many artists and technicians collaborate, as well as in studios occupied by sole artisans. Both may produce inexpensive "gift" weights as well as the more expensive "collector" weights. The dividing line between these classes, of course, is up to the individual collector. An advantage of paperweight collecting, as opposed to many other collectables such as oil paintings and toys, is that they require no special conditions of temperature and humidity for their preservation.

Antique weights, of which perhaps 10,000 or so survive (mostly in museums), generally appreciate steadily in value. Collecting modern weights for investment purposes, though possible, is for optimists.

There are a number of paperweight collectors associations, which hold national and regional conventions and other activities such as tours, lectures, and auctions. There are approximately 20,000 paperweight collectors worldwide.

There are several different types of paperweights, and collectors often specialize in just one of them.

Millefiori paperweights contain thin cross-sections of cylindrical composite canes made from colored rods and resemble little flowers. These are usually made in a factory setting. The exist in many variations such as scattered, patterned, close concentric or carpet ground.;

Lampwork paperweights have objects such as flowers, fruit, butterflies or animals constructed by shaping and working bits of colored glass with a gas burner or torch and assembling them into attractive compositions, which are then incorporated into the dome. This is a form particularly favored by studio artists.;

Sulfide paperweights have an encased three dimensional medallion or portrait plaque made from a ceramic. They often are produced to commemorate some person or event.; Swirl paperweights have opaque rods of two or three colors radiating like a pinwheel from a central millefiori floret.; California style paperweights are made by "painting" the surface of the dome with colored molten glass, and manipulated with picks or other tools. They may also be sprayed while hot with various metallic salts to achieve an iridescent look.; Victorian portrait and advertising paperweights were dome glass paperweights first made in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania using a process patented in 1882 by William H. Maxwell. The portrait paperweights contained pictures of ordinary people reproduced on a milk-glass disk and encased within clear glass. This same process was also used to produce paperweights with the owner's name encased or an advertisement of a business or product. For examples, refer to PCA's Annual Bulletins published for 2000, 2001 and 2002. Later makers included Albert A. Graeser, and J. N. Abrams.;

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