Antique Glass Paperweight

Paper weights- It is amazing how differently this word can be seen. Some people think of refined antique works of art which are made from lead crystal glass; whereas others remember the plastic ornaments from their childhood- those which had to be shaken to set the artificial blizzard around Rudolph to start flying. Most people often relate an antique glass paper weight as being expensive. An antique glass paper weight is in some way expensive, depending on how unique is! The whole attraction of an antique paper weight is that it is something very attractive! Some antique glass paper weights are much pursued and therefore cost a lot. Despite being an expensive item, it is still quite possible to find an antique glass paper weight under $200.

Glass paper weights or 'letter weights' as they were known, first made an appearance around 1845. Then, for a period of about 15 years or so, a gentleman or lady might have been seen having a glass paper weight on their desk. In those times, paper weights were seen as something functional as well as being a piece of decorative art. Most of these antique glass paper weights were seen to represent beautiful, elaborate Millefiori designs and all glass paper weights were made and put in lead crystal glass. None of the antique glass paper weight was mass-produced. An antique glass paper weight had to be handmade and is still handmade in this modern era. Many antique glass paper weights have either been damaged or lost during the past years, but the antique glass paper weight which has survived from the 19th century offers an exquisite example of the hard work of the workers who made it. The antique glass paper weight comprising Millefiori canes are believed to have been made in the late 15th century in Italy.

Around early 1840s two renowned Venetian glass workers –Francini and Bigaglia- made a number of paper weights which contained arbitrarily twisted Millefiori canes, shapes, signatures and even dates. These early Venetian antique glass paper weights are disorderly, often dull, disproportionate pieces, but because of their history, they cost about £1,000 to £3,000. The Venetians, though, did not misuse the optical features of the glass: the dome of an antique glass paper weight is a magnifying lens, which helps in giving firmness and profundity of detail to the paper weight.

Many of the best antique glass paper weights were produced in France by the Saint Louis factories in the Metz region or in Baccarat. Antique glass paper weights were even produced by Clichy in Paris. The Clichy in Paris closed a while back, but Saint Louis and Baccarat are still in production, and made many glass paper weights in the subsequent half of the 20th century. Other high class but low in capacity factories in France include St Mande and Patin. In other areas, some very high class antique glass paper weights were produced in England (by the company George Bacchus & Sons); in the New England area of the United States.

Antique glass paper weights are so beautiful and exquisite that some people choose to use antique glass paper weights for decoration purposes only rather than using them for their actual purpose. Antique glass paper weights range in sizes from being small to being large.

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