expat Posted September 4, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted September 4, 2022 About 1000 meters up in the Sierra de Gador mountains lives an artisan. He is an old school blacksmith/welder and glassblower. We met him around two years ago when we were showing a couple a property for sale. His metalworking skills were exemplary but what caught our eyes were his stunning paperweights. We bought a couple and have continued purchasing whenever we are nearby. If you have any to share or want to post handmade items, please show them here. The first ones we bought. More to come 11 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 5, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 Part two 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 5, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 Part three 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 5, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 And finally, part four 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted September 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted September 5, 2022 3 hours ago, expat said: And finally, part four expat, That's a nice group of abstract free-form paperweights ☺️. Were they all done by the same glass artist? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted September 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted September 5, 2022 I'll post photos of a few favorites in my collection. Lizard by Victor Trabucco, 4.0 in. dia., Buffalo, NY. Lizard, St. Louis Factory, Paris, France; 1980, 3.25 in. dia. Paul Stankard, 3 views; 3.25 in. dia., 2001. "Death & decay brings forth life". Paul Stankard, Water lilies & earth spirits on the underside, 3.0 in. dia., 1984. John Deacons, Scotland, 3.0 in. dia., 2008. Double overlay paperweight with Millefiori mushroom bouquet. Mike Hunter, scrambled paperweight with murrine portrait canes of Marilyn Monroe & Liz Taylor, 2.75 in. dia., 2017. 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 5, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, Al Kowsky said: I'll post photos of a few favorites in my collection. Lizard by Victor Trabucco, 4.0 in. dia., Buffalo, NY. Lizard, St. Louis Factory, Paris, France; 1980, 3.25 in. dia. Paul Stankard, 3 views; 3.25 in. dia., 2001. "Death & decay brings forth life". Paul Stankard, Water lilies & earth spirits on the underside, 3.0 in. dia., 1984. John Deacons, Scotland, 3.0 in. dia., 2008. Double overlay paperweight with Millefiori mushroom bouquet. Mike Hunter, scrambled paperweight with murrine portrait canes of Marilyn Monroe & Liz Taylor, 2.75 in. dia., 2017. Wow, a great selection. Thanks for sharing. As far as I know ours were created by the same person, but he said he often takes inspiration from others in the field and modifies to his own capabilities.. We were even invited to observe him at work. Fascinating, I think you need a tolerance for heat and a healthy set of lungs. Edited September 5, 2022 by expat 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted September 5, 2022 · Member Share Posted September 5, 2022 2 hours ago, expat said: Wow, a great selection. Thanks for sharing. As far as I know ours were created by the same person, but he said he often takes inspiration from others in the field and modifies to his own capabilities.. We were even invited to observe him at work. Fascinating, I think you need a tolerance for heat and a healthy set of lungs. expat, Thanks ☺️! I've been an art glass enthusiast for a long time & still have a small collection of antique & modern art glass. Glass paperweights represent the epitome of glass art & became popular in the mid 19th century. The French glass makers made the finest antique paperweights. The most famous antique glass paperweight is in the Corning Museum of Glass & was made by the Pantin Glass Works in the 1870s, it depicts a finely crafted salamander & is insured for several million dollars. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted September 5, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 5, 2022 17 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said: expat, Thanks ☺️! I've been an art glass enthusiast for a long time & still have a small collection of antique & modern art glass. Glass paperweights represent the epitome of glass art & became popular in the mid 19th century. The French glass makers made the finest antique paperweights. The most famous antique glass paperweight is in the Corning Museum of Glass & was made by the Pantin Glass Works in the 1870s, it depicts a finely crafted salamander & is insured for several million dollars. That is stunning. Craftmanship at its finest 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted October 16, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 16, 2022 I have a maybe 9 or 10 (maybe more) but don't know much about them. I also have a nice collection of marbles. I am a huge fan of glass. Here is a some. I think that the clear tomato or apple with the red stem is maybe Pairpoint. I've seen a pear with the same stem. A nice blue sand dollar (To keep in the coin theme) Latticinio Satin stripes Bare surface millefiori 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted October 16, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 16, 2022 Here's a few more A pastel swirl A small one with a detailed millefiori base Strange flattened cut canes A swirl with mica threads A pear with a bubble on green base Pretty pink lattice with alternating rows of white and blue millefiori flowers Thanks for allowing me to join your post. I think these are of some quality and value. Bought most from a paperweight collector who had hundreds. Wish I would have bought more that day. 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted October 16, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 16, 2022 6 minutes ago, thenickelguy said: Here's a few more A pastel swirl A small one with a detailed millefiori base Strange flattened cut canes A swirl with mica threads A pear with a bubble on green base Pretty pink lattice with alternating rows of white and blue millefiori flowers Thanks for allowing me to join your post. I think these are of some quality and value. Bought most from a paperweight collector who had hundreds. Wish I would have bought more that day. Most welcome addition to the thread. A beautiful selection of glass artistry. Thanks for sharing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 16, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 16, 2022 3 hours ago, thenickelguy said: Here's a few more A pastel swirl A small one with a detailed millefiori base Strange flattened cut canes A swirl with mica threads A pear with a bubble on green base Pretty pink lattice with alternating rows of white and blue millefiori flowers Thanks for allowing me to join your post. I think these are of some quality and value. Bought most from a paperweight collector who had hundreds. Wish I would have bought more that day. Some very attractive paperweights ☺️! I especially like the scrambled weights; every time you look at them you discover something different 😃. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted October 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 17, 2022 I actually wanted to post this picture of the sand dollar. It is more flat and wider than the others. I do believe that bubble placement is important in these kind of paperweights and there are some off course in the center area on this one. I suppose this factor would make one better than another when picking out the best. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some grading standards for paperweights. I think I have a hardcover book on them but I haven't seen it in decades. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) For anyone interested in fine glass paperweights & related objects L. H. Selman Ltd. from Chicago is having their 82nd Fall auction beginning later today. L. H. Selman Ltd. is the premier dealer & auctioneer of fine antique & modern paperweights in the world. Some of my best paperweights have been won from this company ☺️. Their auctions attract serious collectors from all over the world, so your odds of striking a bargain at their auctions is pretty slim 😒. Nevertheless, taking a peek at their website & auction catalog should be a rewarding experience 🤩. Their auction procedure is odd & unlike any other auction house that I've dealt with 🙃, but if you really want to bid on the lots you'll have to play by their rules 🤔. They also provide excellent spinning videos of the best objects. Edited October 17, 2022 by Al Kowsky 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted October 17, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 17, 2022 Here's a link to that auction. Wowee! Those are amazing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted October 22, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted October 22, 2022 I'm not sure if this is a paperweight or a work of art glass. It has a small flat spot (fourth photo) that doesn't seem suited for use as a weight. I think it is from circa 1900, but I am not sure about this; it could be more modern. The style does suggest Art Nouveau, especially with the copper encasing the glass. I think that's an opal in the center. Other stones seem to have been used as well. On the bottom there's worn rather crude engraved letter and numbers that don't show in the last photo. There's a "90" and three letters below that I can't decipher. 5 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted October 22, 2022 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 5 minutes ago, robinjojo said: I'm not sure if this is a paperweight or a work of art glass. It has a small flat spot (fourth photo) that doesn't seem suited for use as a weight. I think it is from circa 1900, but I am not sure about this; it could be more modern. The style does suggest Art Nouveau, especially with the copper encasing the glass. I think that's an opal in the center. Other stones seem to have been used as well. On the bottom there's worn rather crude engraved letter and numbers that don't show in the last photo. There's a "90" and three letters below that I can't decipher. What a cool looking piece. Never seen anything like it before. Can't wait to see if anyone recognises it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted April 5, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 5, 2023 This magnificent paperweight of a lizard by Victor Trabucco was recently auctioned by H.L.Selman for $3,500.00. Watch the spinning video ☺️. I was lucky to acquire one of these weights years ago. 5 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted April 9, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 9, 2023 That is awesome robinjojo Maybe mission or arts and crafts searches might help. I think it is "old". Like 1900-1920 ish but not sure. Could it be Fred Brosi? Or some old art studio. I don't know. But absolutely awesome. I like that Lizard a lot too Al Kowsky Way neater than those that BULBHEAD is selling! LOL Paperweights are so neat.! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted April 10, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 10, 2023 (edited) Here are a few from my wife's collection. I have just learnt that theses paperweights are difficult to photograph. I took pictures of several others, but these went straight into the bin. Edited April 10, 2023 by shanxi 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted April 10, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 10, 2023 (edited) Some really beautiful pieces of art around there. Not paperweights but still glass work, I visited the Dale Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle last september. The dude studied in Murano (Venezia, Italia) before he developped his own artistic views in the glasswork. There are some really astounding pieces there. Some of them : Q Edited April 10, 2023 by Qcumbor 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted April 10, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 10, 2023 9 hours ago, shanxi said: I have just learnt that theses paperweights are difficult to photograph. Well, you did an excellent job and they are all beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted April 10, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 10, 2023 Dazzling Qcumbor !!! Just amazing. I love art glass of all kinds. I might get some of my marbles out if that would have no objection. I have NOT lost my marbles yet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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