The above "Jewel of Glass" is known as a "dichroic" paperweight. It is crafted from a monolith of flawless, optical crystal which has been formed and polished by hand.

The artist then uses a laser set up to reach the exact placement within the crystal form to implode a three-dimensional design on the inside of the piece.

This piece measures @ 5" high, 3 1/2" wide and 2 1/2" thick at it densest section. It is signed Peet Robison and dated '86.

Above is an example of one of the "classic" paperweight designs. It is known as a "scrambled, close packed, concentric millefiori". This refers to the fact that the rods or canes are very tightly "packed" together forming a solid "ground". "Scrambled" means that there are numerous canes of different designs used and concentric tells us that some patterns of these canes are in spaced, circular patterns and, in this case, echoing the design of a central cane (the yellow-gold canes with a white border). "Millefiori" means "a thousand flowers," designating the many different canes packed in close prufusion.

Many paperweights will have their markings of origin on a "signature cane". For instance, many St. Louis weights will have an "S" and an "L" cane. Some will have date canes as do various Baccarats with one number per cane. Many artists will use a signature cane such as "K" for Kazium. There are also "silhouette" canes representing the zodiac signs, animals, flowers, etc.

Also, the shape and proportions of the weight itself can give clues as to the maker. There are classic silhouette shapes attributed to Baccarat, Clichy, etal.

This "1000 Flowers in Glass" is @ 2" tall by 3" in diameter.

Above is a stunning "latticinio" crown weight on a coppery-gold "aventurine" ground. Latticinio refers to the lacy basketweave pattern of the 9 ribbons. "Aventurine" refers to the "ground" that the latticinio ribbons lay on. Aventurine is glass given a sparkling appearance created by the addition of metallic crystals to the melt.

The 9 latticinio ribbons delicately flow outward from the center over the aventurine ground. Classic "crown" weights have the latticinio torsades or ribbons flowing out from a center cane and converging again at or near the base. There is no center cane here but the effect is very similar to the crown weights.

The 9 latticinio ribbons are divided into 3 white and 3 pink with 2 threads weaving in and out of the centers of each ribbon forming a cascading series of spherical designs and the remaining 3 ribbons are blue-green with just the classic basket weave design. There are controlled bubbles placed between the 9 latticinio ribbons as well. The weight measures @ 2" tall by 3" in diameter.

Above is an inspired example of the brilliance of pure crystal which has sharp, diamond cut and faceted intricate designs in a pyramid form by (who else?) - Waterford Crystal of Ireland. Certainly, I believe, on a par with similar pieces by Baccarat, this sparkling Waterford Diamond will truly maintain its brilliance and give joy forever.

Amply sized measuring @ 3 1/2" tall by 4 1/4 across its far corners.

Okay, I admit it......I have a special fondness for this Limited Edition "Selkirk Rose" shown above. Who wouldn't? I mean just look at it! That gorgeous rose is formed with a "crimp" - a tool inserted into molten glass to form three-dimensional roses and lilies, used especially at Millville. Then that perfectly formed rose is carefully encased in clear glass then cut and faceted and polished resulting in a "5 and 1" design -- 5 circular windows around the sides and 1 large window on the top. These window facets not only give the viewer a wonderful perspective on the glorious aspects of the "crimp" rose but also allow a fanciful dance of light to play through it as well.

Selkirk is one of the triumvirate of the long-established, well-respected Scottish factories. The other two are, of course, Perthshire and Caithness. All have given opportunity and training to marvelous artisans-in-glass, many of whom have gone on to establish their own studios.

This "Jewel of Glass" Selkirk Rose measures @ 2 1/4" tall by 3" in diameter and is cursively signed "Selkirk Glass - Selkirk Rose - 96/250 (#96 of the limited edition of 250) - 1983."

Above is a Baccarat Crystal, sulphide paperweight of Charlemagne, made for The Franklin Mint's "Great Leaders of History" in 1970.

"Sulphide" refers to the cameo inside the paperweight which is a three-dimensional ceramic medallion or portrait plaque used as a decorative enclosure.

Baccarat, along with St. Louis and Clichy, were the French factories responsible for the birth, innovation, and renaissance of the crystal paperweight and are among the most prized treasures of many collectors.

This Baccarat "Chalemagne" has circular facets on six sides and is set in amber-colored crystal on a rayed, piedouche base. It measures @ 2" high by 3" in diameter and is signed "The Franklin Mint - Baccarat, France - 1970.

This is a 'double-signed," magnum paperweight.

Joe Rice is a premier glass artist from Indiana following in the tradition of his uncle, Joe St. Clair. This is known as a "magnum" paperweight because of its size and weight. It measures @ 4 3/4" tall by 4 3/4" in diameter and weighs @ 5lbs.

Inside are four lilies or "ice pick" flowers that Mr. Rice is famous for. The lilies are "lamp-worked" glass canes miraculously and meticulously formed into perfect flowers and between each of the lilies are multicolored glass canes and inside the center of each flower is a large, controlled bubble. This "Garden of Glass" sits on a white bed of pulled canes.

After this weight was created, Mr. Rice sent it to Ohio for master craftsman, Sid Garrett, to cut the top window facet and the two spectacular, etched hearts that frame the green and blue lily as well as etching the two falling sprays of greenery that reveal the yellow and rose-colored lilies behind them. Sid Garrett did much decorative cutting for the noted St. Clair Studios and his contribution to the finish of this masterpiece is incalculable and sweetens its provenance and value.

Two master craftsmen at the height of their respective talents collaborating on this "Garden of Glass" make it very, very special indeed. Mr.Rice's name is stamped with the date of 1988 while Mr. Garrett's is the "cursive" (hand-signed) signature.

The above paperweight, in the art nouveau style, was created in the early years of Lundberg Studios in California, a pivotal contributor in the arena of art glass. Steven Lundberg began his artistic career in 1972 when, along with his brother James (now deceased), he founded Steven Lundberg Glass Art. Mr. Lundberg now works with his son, Justin, who has grown to become an artist on a par with his famous father and uncle.

This paperweight which is one of his early, wildly popular, Tiffany-style paperweights, has fanciful, crimson hearts, stars and swirls on a stunning iridescence of cobalt blue and seafoam green. It measures @ 2" tall by 2 3/4" in diameter. It is signed "Lundberg '73".

I think the above weight superbly illustrates how the difference in the light source can dramatically change the appearance of a paperweight. It is an attractive piece in natural light but, when lit from below by a stand light, its true colors are brilliantly illuminated.

This piece is like some of the fine French art glass pieces by Galle', Muellers-Freres or Le Gras. Art glass "lives and breathes" when light shines through it like it does in those breathtaking, reverse hand-painted lamp shades of yesteryear or the stunning, stained-glass Tiffany Studios lamp shades.

This has a very art nouveau design and is signed just above the basal rim by "Patrick" and dated "'76". It measures @2" tall by 3 1/4" in diameter.

The above Chinese paperweight shows that weights can be executed successfully in other mediums. This piece is metal, probably a thin layer of copper over brass, strikingly designed and painted. The enamelled colors are vibrant and translucent in the best tradition of a "cloisonne" piece.

The general method for making cloisonne involved first soldering brass wires to the surface of a copper object to form a pattern or illustration, then, according to the requirements of each pattern, colored enamels were filled in. Enamel was made by melting different materials such as red lead, boric acid borate, and glass powder together to become an opaque or translucent glistening substance. A variety of oxidized metals are added, and the substance then changed into enamels of different colors, or enamel coloring. After the melted enamel cooled and became solid, it was then ground into powder and mixed with water prior to the filling in process.

After the spaces delineated by brass wires on the copper object were filled in with enamel paste, the object was then fired. After every firing, the enamel would contract, producing an uneven surface. It was then necessary to fill in the uneven places with enamel paste of the same color many times over. This procedure had to be repeated many times until every filled-in space became thoroughly smooth without any depressions. Only then was the firing process complete.

This marvelous weight has a small, metal shield soldered to the bottom which says "KUO'S - China Cloison".

Above is one of my favorite kinds of paperweights. This is a Murano, double overlay, with 5 & 1 facets with a floral basket central motif. Murano, of course, refers to the origin of this piece (the famous island of Murano off the coast of Italy); double overlay refers to the process of coating the weight with two, different, thin layers of colored glass, with windows cut on its coated surfaces (5 on the sides with 1 on top i.e. "5 & 1") to allow visual access to the inner motif.

Inside the weight, suspended in clear glass is the floral bouquet motif which is made up of concentric circlets of matching canes. The exposed, outer circlet of yellow canes forms a basket holding a circlet of yellow star and turquoise canes surrounding a circlet of round, pink and white canes surrounding a circlet of red,white and pink canes with yellow centers surrounding a center "Clichy Rose" type cane.

This is a large weight measuring @ 2 3/4" tall by 3 1/4" in diameter.

One of the fun things about collecting paperweights is the "whimsy" that results in all kinds of things being made of glass incorporating the craftsmanship and traditional designs of paperweights. Everything from cabinet and door knobs to newel post toppers, ash trays, toothpick holders, vases, sugar and creamers, decanters, perfume bottles, animals, fruit, vegetables and .............. ?? Again, the range is only as limited as the artisan's imagination.

Above left is a wonderful perfume bottle in thick, gorgeous jade-colored glass with a round stopper. It is featured in the design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York as representative of distinctive, modern design and is marked MMA on the bottom. It measures @ 4 1/2" tall by 3" in diameter.

Another example of the whimsical fun of paperweights is this charming satin pink, frosted apple with a deep green applied stem. It measures @ 3 7/8" tall by 2 1/2" in diameter.

More whimsy and fun. This teapot has five Jack-in-the-Pulpit type pink flowers over a green flashed base with controlled bubbles in the center of each flower and an applied stem "lid". It measures @ 3 3/4" tall by 4 1/2" at its widest points.

The toadstool/mushroom is straight out of "Alice In Wonderland". It is made by Viking glass in a delicious caramel apple red and measures @ 3 1/2" tall by 3" in diameter.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief tour of some of the more traditional styles, types and sizes of paperweights. The spectrum of these "Jewels of Glass" is limited only to the artistic sensibilities, talents, craft and endless imagination of the masterworkers who create them.

If you're interested in selling paperweights that belong to you or your family,

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the purchase of one or more of your pieces, or to represent your entire collection at auction or private sale.

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