Page 31 - joa-nov-21

ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

Decorate Your Desk

hen talking about collectibles flattening the base. The second it was finished,
related to writing, it is impossible each glass paperweight “ball” was able to sit on
Wto ignore the topic of paperweights. a surface and remain still. Thus, the decora-
Before computers existed, writing everything tive pieces could also serve a useful purpose.
out by hand was the norm. As a result, writing
desks were often littered with various papers. Glass Paperweight Popularity Rises
The best way to keep them organized and in One of the key reasons glass paper-
place was to use some type of paperweight, weights quickly gained popularity was
but paperweights were not then and are not The Great Exhibition of the Industry of
now simply practical – they are also decorative All Nations. This event took place in the
and highly collectible. Let’s take a peek at the world-renowned Crystal Palace and was
history of paperweights and some great types hosted in London, England by Prince
of paperweights to collect. Albert in 1851. Multiple exhibitions and
world fairs soon followed where various
artists showed off their artistic paperweights.
Another reason glass paperweight’s popu-
larity took off was a practical need. The first
paperweights came on the scene at a time
when paper was cheap and letter writing

was popular. Thus, their practical use and Antique Clichy paperweight
beauty combined to make them attractive
to the masses.
The Two Phases of Glass Paperweight
Big Names in European Glass Jump on Production Popularity
the Paperweight Bandwagon The European paperweight production
European glassmakers soon took up movement primarily lasted from approxi-
the task of perfecting the art of paperweight mately 1845 to 1860. The trend almost died
production. To do that, they combined at that point were it not for immigrants who
what were modern techniques at the time came to America and brought the process
with ancient methods. One of those ancient with them. It was unpopular and remained
methods included the millefiori, or “thousand unpopular for nearly a century, but it didn’t
flowers” technique. Flower-filled glass paper- completely die.
Vintage Grant Randolph Studios weights were particularly popular for their The famous writer Truman Capote gave
hummingbird paperweight bright colors and their longevity. No matter glass paperweight collecting a boost when
what time of year it was, paperweight users he caught the collecting bug in the 1940s
could always have flowers to admire on after seeing the impressive paperweight
Egyptian and Roman Glass – The their desks. Baccarat was one of the biggest collection of the French writer and actress,
Precursor to the Paperweight companies at the time to produce such paper- Colette. Glass paperweight production and
Although contemporary paperweights weights, and Baccarat paperweights are still collecting in the United States also got
come in many shapes and are made from popular with collectors today. another boost in the 1960s. Around that
various materials, the glass paperweight is the time, glassmaking was done primarily in
most iconic. Glass paperweights have been large factories, but many factories began to
popular for nearly two centuries and are outsource to individual artists working in
highly prized by collectors. These place setters their own private studios, or ateliers. That
can trace their roots even further back to caused a rapid expansion of artistic expression
Venice in 1495 when a Venetian historian in glass paperweight production.
recognized the beauty of encasing the
beautiful flowers of springtime in glass. Promotional Paperweights
That technique originated in Egypt and When it comes to general value, tradi-
eventually was learned by the Romans. tional glass paperweights as described
above are typically the most desirable.
More Venetian Influence on the Collectors also have the option of
Invention of Glass Paperweights collecting promotional paperweights.
It took a while, but in 1845 another Promotional paperweights come in many
Venetian named Pietro Bigaglia intro- different shapes, sizes, and types. For
duced attendees of the Austrian Industrial example, you can find modern magnifying
Fair to his “Venetian balls.” It was around paperweights, paperweights with built-in
that time that the first flat-bottomed glass pen holders, and even paperweights featuring
paperweights were produced. The innova- inlaid clocks that all promote various
tion of flattening each glass orb on the bottom companies and brands. Some advertising
had two key benefits. For these, a glassblower paperweights also have distinctive shapes,
would remove the pontil mark (sometimes such as ovals, rectangles, or pyramids.
referred to as a belly button by collectors) by
Continued on page 34
1848 Paperweight made by Baccarat
November 2021 29