The history of paperweights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nGeorge Kulles\u2019 1996 thriller,\u00a0The Curse of the Imperial Paperweights, weaves a tale about a world-famous collection of paperweights, which disappears from Sotheby\u2019s New York. An investigation into their previous owners ensues. This fictional murder mystery spins on one factual axis: the real individuals within the pages \u2013 Empress Eugenie of France, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote and Eva Peron \u2013 all collected paperweights.<\/p>\n
These glass orbs were coveted additions for the desks of grand houses and many early collectors were writers. Capote once described them as: \u2018rather like frozen snowflakes, dazzling patterns frozen forever\u2019.<\/p>\n
Paperweights found popularity after a series of expositions, including the Great Exhibition of 1851 at London\u2019s Crystal Palace. The most sought-after classical paperweights stemmed primarily from three French factories, whose names have excited collectors past and present: Baccarat, Clichy and St Louis.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> This Baccarat green snake c1850 sold at Bonhams in 2018 for \u00a31,500.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n You might also enjoy:<\/h4>\n- How to buy antique dinner services<\/a><\/li>\n
- The history of pressed ferns<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to collect ecclesiastical antiques<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to start a collection of mercury glass<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2020\/06\/04.-DSC_4588-KL-0f5e27c-scaled.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"A\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>\n\n\nWhich are the most collectable paperweights?<\/h2>\n
Most antique glass paperweights were created in three styles: millefiori, lampwork and sulphide. The iconic millefiori,\u00a0or \u2018thousand flowers\u2019 technique\u00a0is achieved by layering molten glass, then manipulating it into\u00a0a thin rod shape and slicing horizontally to create a pattern in the cross section. These patterned canes can create a multitude of designs and commonly feature botanical themes. An individual cane will sometimes identify the maker, such as the distinctive \u2018dancing devil\u2019 of St Louis paperweights, or the small \u2018B\u2019\u00a0for Baccarat. Lampwork refers to the hot flame used to heat a glass cane, while sulphide paperweights are those containing cast animals, people and flowers.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nThese antique paperweights were originally manufactured over a short period. Production ceased around 1860, which is when collecting began with a vengeance, especially among the wealthy. The glass paperweight enjoyed a renaissance after the Second World War and they are still made by modern glassmakers today, with weights by artists such as Paul J Stankard commanding high prices.<\/p>\n
According to Jim Peake, Specialist in Glass at Bonhams, paperweights have proved resilient in the current market. \u2018While some fields of glass collecting have experienced fluctuations in value as a result of changes in fashion and collecting habits, paperweights have generally held their value and continue to prove popular.\u2019<\/p>\n
\n\n\nGlass paperweights still attract attention among both serious and \u2018magpie\u2019 collectors, who might buy one just because they like it. \u2018All markets fluctuate, and there has certainly been a general shift away from academic collecting towards collecting focused\u00a0more on aesthetics,\u2019 Jim says. \u2018Paperweights lend themselves so well to this because they\u00a0are visually appealing and the variety attracts a range of people.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> This exceptional Baccarat paperweight c1850 sold at Bonhams in 2018 for \u00a38,750.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nHow much are antique paperweights worth?<\/h2>\n
If a signature can identify the maker or date, the value is increased. \u2018With the exception of miniature paperweights, size matters, and bigger is better,\u2019 says Jim. Most paperweights are between 6.3cm-8.2cm (2.5in- 3.25in), with anything larger classed as a \u2018magnum\u2019.<\/p>\n
Minor damage won\u2019t always put off a potential buyer. If a crack or chip doesn\u2019t detract from the overall glass or can easily\u00a0be polished out, a rare piece will still draw in serious buyers. Evidence of wear, particularly on the base, can actually reassure a buyer that the piece is a genuine antique. However, more serious issues such as an off-kilter design or large air bubbles within the glass will affect value.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nThankfully, once you\u2019ve purchased a paperweight, it\u2019s fairly easy to keep it safe. \u2018They are difficult things to break,\u2019 Jim says. \u2018The cat will have a hard time knocking a paperweight
The sale of a highly anticipated collection can fetch record\u00a0prices, showing the continuity of paperweights\u2019 appeal. Jim recalls some of Bonhams\u2019 successes: \u2018One of the landmark sales of recent years was that of the celebrated collection belonging to the late Baroness de Bellet in 2010, which made over \u00a3602,000 against a pre-sale estimate\u00a0of \u00a3272,000.\u00a0\u2018Two significant collections\u00a0were sold by Bonhams more recently in 2018, including that of the Late Countess Poulett and that of Leo Kaplan, both of which contained many exceptional examples, which exceeded expectations.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Where to buy antique paperweights:<\/h2>\n\n\nBonhams<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
London, New Bond Street & Knightsbridge.Fileman Antiques<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Squirrels, Bayards, Horsham Road, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3AA.
George Kulles\u2019 1996 thriller,\u00a0The Curse of the Imperial Paperweights, weaves a tale about a world-famous collection of paperweights, which disappears from Sotheby\u2019s New York. An investigation into their previous owners ensues. This fictional murder mystery spins on one factual axis: the real individuals within the pages \u2013 Empress Eugenie of France, Oscar Wilde, Truman Capote and Eva Peron \u2013 all collected paperweights.<\/p>\n
These glass orbs were coveted additions for the desks of grand houses and many early collectors were writers. Capote once described them as: \u2018rather like frozen snowflakes, dazzling patterns frozen forever\u2019.<\/p>\n
Paperweights found popularity after a series of expositions, including the Great Exhibition of 1851 at London\u2019s Crystal Palace. The most sought-after classical paperweights stemmed primarily from three French factories, whose names have excited collectors past and present: Baccarat, Clichy and St Louis.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2020\/09\/Baccarat-green-snake--0bffd48-e1668095223858.jpg?quality=90&resize=897%2C894"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>You might also enjoy:<\/h4>\n- How to buy antique dinner services<\/a><\/li>\n
- The history of pressed ferns<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to collect ecclesiastical antiques<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to start a collection of mercury glass<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>\n\n\nWhich are the most collectable paperweights?<\/h2>\n
Most antique glass paperweights were created in three styles: millefiori, lampwork and sulphide. The iconic millefiori,\u00a0or \u2018thousand flowers\u2019 technique\u00a0is achieved by layering molten glass, then manipulating it into\u00a0a thin rod shape and slicing horizontally to create a pattern in the cross section. These patterned canes can create a multitude of designs and commonly feature botanical themes. An individual cane will sometimes identify the maker, such as the distinctive \u2018dancing devil\u2019 of St Louis paperweights, or the small \u2018B\u2019\u00a0for Baccarat. Lampwork refers to the hot flame used to heat a glass cane, while sulphide paperweights are those containing cast animals, people and flowers.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nThese antique paperweights were originally manufactured over a short period. Production ceased around 1860, which is when collecting began with a vengeance, especially among the wealthy. The glass paperweight enjoyed a renaissance after the Second World War and they are still made by modern glassmakers today, with weights by artists such as Paul J Stankard commanding high prices.<\/p>\n
According to Jim Peake, Specialist in Glass at Bonhams, paperweights have proved resilient in the current market. \u2018While some fields of glass collecting have experienced fluctuations in value as a result of changes in fashion and collecting habits, paperweights have generally held their value and continue to prove popular.\u2019<\/p>\n
\n\n\nGlass paperweights still attract attention among both serious and \u2018magpie\u2019 collectors, who might buy one just because they like it. \u2018All markets fluctuate, and there has certainly been a general shift away from academic collecting towards collecting focused\u00a0more on aesthetics,\u2019 Jim says. \u2018Paperweights lend themselves so well to this because they\u00a0are visually appealing and the variety attracts a range of people.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> This exceptional Baccarat paperweight c1850 sold at Bonhams in 2018 for \u00a38,750.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nHow much are antique paperweights worth?<\/h2>\n
If a signature can identify the maker or date, the value is increased. \u2018With the exception of miniature paperweights, size matters, and bigger is better,\u2019 says Jim. Most paperweights are between 6.3cm-8.2cm (2.5in- 3.25in), with anything larger classed as a \u2018magnum\u2019.<\/p>\n
Minor damage won\u2019t always put off a potential buyer. If a crack or chip doesn\u2019t detract from the overall glass or can easily\u00a0be polished out, a rare piece will still draw in serious buyers. Evidence of wear, particularly on the base, can actually reassure a buyer that the piece is a genuine antique. However, more serious issues such as an off-kilter design or large air bubbles within the glass will affect value.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nThankfully, once you\u2019ve purchased a paperweight, it\u2019s fairly easy to keep it safe. \u2018They are difficult things to break,\u2019 Jim says. \u2018The cat will have a hard time knocking a paperweight
The sale of a highly anticipated collection can fetch record\u00a0prices, showing the continuity of paperweights\u2019 appeal. Jim recalls some of Bonhams\u2019 successes: \u2018One of the landmark sales of recent years was that of the celebrated collection belonging to the late Baroness de Bellet in 2010, which made over \u00a3602,000 against a pre-sale estimate\u00a0of \u00a3272,000.\u00a0\u2018Two significant collections\u00a0were sold by Bonhams more recently in 2018, including that of the Late Countess Poulett and that of Leo Kaplan, both of which contained many exceptional examples, which exceeded expectations.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Where to buy antique paperweights:<\/h2>\n\n\nBonhams<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
London, New Bond Street & Knightsbridge.Fileman Antiques<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Squirrels, Bayards, Horsham Road, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3AA.
<\/p><\/div>
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Which are the most collectable paperweights?<\/h2>\n
Most antique glass paperweights were created in three styles: millefiori, lampwork and sulphide. The iconic millefiori,\u00a0or \u2018thousand flowers\u2019 technique\u00a0is achieved by layering molten glass, then manipulating it into\u00a0a thin rod shape and slicing horizontally to create a pattern in the cross section. These patterned canes can create a multitude of designs and commonly feature botanical themes. An individual cane will sometimes identify the maker, such as the distinctive \u2018dancing devil\u2019 of St Louis paperweights, or the small \u2018B\u2019\u00a0for Baccarat. Lampwork refers to the hot flame used to heat a glass cane, while sulphide paperweights are those containing cast animals, people and flowers.<\/p>\n
These antique paperweights were originally manufactured over a short period. Production ceased around 1860, which is when collecting began with a vengeance, especially among the wealthy. The glass paperweight enjoyed a renaissance after the Second World War and they are still made by modern glassmakers today, with weights by artists such as Paul J Stankard commanding high prices.<\/p>\n
According to Jim Peake, Specialist in Glass at Bonhams, paperweights have proved resilient in the current market. \u2018While some fields of glass collecting have experienced fluctuations in value as a result of changes in fashion and collecting habits, paperweights have generally held their value and continue to prove popular.\u2019<\/p>\n
Glass paperweights still attract attention among both serious and \u2018magpie\u2019 collectors, who might buy one just because they like it. \u2018All markets fluctuate, and there has certainly been a general shift away from academic collecting towards collecting focused\u00a0more on aesthetics,\u2019 Jim says. \u2018Paperweights lend themselves so well to this because they\u00a0are visually appealing and the variety attracts a range of people.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/19\/2020\/09\/Exceptional-Baccarat-Garlanded-8054635-e1668095258597.jpg?quality=90&resize=1023%2C1012"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>How much are antique paperweights worth?<\/h2>\n
If a signature can identify the maker or date, the value is increased. \u2018With the exception of miniature paperweights, size matters, and bigger is better,\u2019 says Jim. Most paperweights are between 6.3cm-8.2cm (2.5in- 3.25in), with anything larger classed as a \u2018magnum\u2019.<\/p>\n
Minor damage won\u2019t always put off a potential buyer. If a crack or chip doesn\u2019t detract from the overall glass or can easily\u00a0be polished out, a rare piece will still draw in serious buyers. Evidence of wear, particularly on the base, can actually reassure a buyer that the piece is a genuine antique. However, more serious issues such as an off-kilter design or large air bubbles within the glass will affect value.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, once you\u2019ve purchased a paperweight, it\u2019s fairly easy to keep it safe. \u2018They are difficult things to break,\u2019 Jim says. \u2018The cat will have a hard time knocking a paperweight
The sale of a highly anticipated collection can fetch record\u00a0prices, showing the continuity of paperweights\u2019 appeal. Jim recalls some of Bonhams\u2019 successes: \u2018One of the landmark sales of recent years was that of the celebrated collection belonging to the late Baroness de Bellet in 2010, which made over \u00a3602,000 against a pre-sale estimate\u00a0of \u00a3272,000.\u00a0\u2018Two significant collections\u00a0were sold by Bonhams more recently in 2018, including that of the Late Countess Poulett and that of Leo Kaplan, both of which contained many exceptional examples, which exceeded expectations.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Where to buy antique paperweights:<\/h2>\n\n\nBonhams<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
London, New Bond Street & Knightsbridge.Fileman Antiques<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Squirrels, Bayards, Horsham Road, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3AA.
Bonhams<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
London, New Bond Street & Knightsbridge. Squirrels, Bayards, Horsham Road, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3AA.Fileman Antiques<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n