This article discusses the difference between rare and common paperweights, noting ways that one can tell if a paperweight is a genuine antique or an imitation. It originally appeared in the July 1943 issue of American Collector magazine, a publication which ran from 1933-1948 and served antique collectors and dealers.
“I have a number of books which belonged to my grandfather. They are very old, and I am quite sure they are valuable. Will you be so kind as to arrange with your friend, the rare book dealer; to look them over and let me know their value?”
Three Desirable Antique Paperweights I: A signed Baccarat weight dated 1848
The books arrive. They are indeed old. The type is of an antique cut, the paper is brittle and streaked with brown. When I take them to my friend, the expert in old books, he examines them and shakes his head. “Not one in the lot,” he says, “is worth more than a few cents. The second-hand bookstores are full of this kind of antiques.”
A friend told me of an experience he had in France in the last war. While directing the work of a group of German prisoners who were doing some excavation work, they came upon a wall several feet beneath the surface of the ground. Suddenly, while the wall was being pried apart, one of the prisoners found an ancient Roman coin.
The American was delighted when the German offered to trade his find for a carton of cigarettes. When the coin was examined by an American expert in rare coins, he pronounced it genuine enough, but added that it was worth no more than the price that was paid.
These cases are cited on account of the frequency with which similar disappointments occur in the field of paperweights. From time to time, I receive letters, not a few of them from dealers, regarding weights which appear to meet all the specifications of rare antiques, but which, after thorough examination, prove to be nothing more than modern approximations of genuine and valuable French and British antiques.
Three Desirable Antique Paperweights II: A Millville rose, an example of the work of Ralph Barber, who made some of the most artistically beautiful and distinctive weights of American origin.
The entire field of modern imitations and outright counterfeits is far too great to cover in anything short of a bulky volume, but I shall attempt in this brief space to set forth certain facts which may be of help to collectors whose experience is still limited, and who, therefore, stand in some danger of acquiring paperweights which, if not entirely worthless, are at least less valuable than they may appear.
At some time in the comparatively recent past, possibly around the time of the first World War, one or more makers of paperweights in Czechoslovakia migrated to Scotland, and, judging from the volume of output, must have set tip quite an establishment there. Whatever the motives of these Czecho-Scottish glassworkers may have been, the fact is that they tuned out a great many modern weights which followed quite closely the style and patterns of some of the finest of the antique weights.
The designs in these modern imitations are widely varied and include flower, butterfly, and geometrical patterns. The weights are extremely well made, and the canes are concise and well placed. Some of them are signed with the letters “P Y,” these initials appearing on the clear glass background. They are now generally accepted as the mark of the Czech weight-maker turned Scotsman.
Wherein do these imitations differ from the genuine antiques? The most obvious difference is in the metal, the clear portions of the glass having a grayish cast and lacking the brilliance of the genuine antiques. In consequence, the greens, reds, and especially the yellows are somewhat obscured and toned down. They lack the beautiful, decisive clarity you find in the bona fide antiques. The maker simply did not have the quality of metal which was available to the old-time paperweight makers. That which he was compelled to use bears a resemblance to the old Irish Waterford glass.
Three Desirable Antique Paperweights III: A weight of millefiori design that followed the Venetian tradition, made at Bristol, England.
The collector whose experience with paperweights is still limited will do well to compare every suspicious piece with a known antique. The difference will generally be quite apparent. As his knowledge grows broader — especially, if he “lives” with even a small collection of fine antique weights for a considerable length of time, and observes them under all conditions of light and shade — there will soon be little danger that he will mistake the plebian piece for the true aristocrat.
The Czecho-Scottish weights, if I may be permitted so to call them, were little known in the United States until shortly before the appearance of my book, Old Glass Paperweights. Examples of two of them will be found, however, on page 32 of that volume. The first cut shows an overlay with a butterfly surrounded by circular rows of set-ups. The second also shows butterflies, with the initials “P Y” inserted at the side. The patterns are applied on clear and opaque backgrounds, and they follow closely the compositions used in genuine old weights.
Weights of this type are at present being brought to this country with English pieces, but up to this time they have been much more numerous in the East than in the Middle West. It pays to be on guard against them, for to acquire one under the impression that it belongs among rare antique specimens is to court disillusionment, and, quite possibly, financial loss.
A Paperweight Signed P Y: Made by Czechoslovakian glass workers who migrated to Scotland about the time of World War I, it is an imitation of the earlier paperweights. Actual comparison with an antique weight will show lack of tone and color value in the reproduction. Not a collectible.
Allow me to say in conclusion that collecting antique paperweights would not have quite its fascination if all the procedure were cut and dried — if there were not certain pitfalls along the way, if it were not necessary to exercise your wits at least a little. Now and then you can commit an error that leads to disappointment, and it is by no means impossible to make a foolish mistake that you always feel a little ashamed of — but do we not commit similar follies in every other department of life? Quite possibly Providence knew what it was about when it did not make life quite perfect!
Perhaps the most valuable asset of the paperweight collector is a consuming interest in the subject. Intense interest — I speak now from personal knowledge! — goes far to make up for what we may lack in native wit. Interest helps us to understand and to remember; to put two and two together, and arrive at new hypotheses and conclusions; to seize every bit of new information and try to fit it in with what we had before; to develop our intuitions to a point where we can often “feel” that something is false or true long before we can demonstrate it by means of airtight logic.
If your interest is strong enough, it will teach you to observe, and to sharpen your perceptions, and perhaps the day will arrive when you see things which escape the notice of others and can echo the Wizard of Baker Street — “Elementary, my dear Watson!”
This article originally appeared in American Collector magazine, a publication which ran from 1933-1948 and served antique collectors and dealers.
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i have a paperweight that my father brought to my grandmother while he was stationed in alaska during WWII. inside it are the words ‘FORGET ME NOT’. would you have any idea about it?
Two of the four paperweights illustrated are mis-identified.
Dear Sirs
I would be interested to know further details about Paperweight 3 “made at Bristol England” shown above.
A similar weight has been in my family for three genorations and I have always wondered who the maker was.
Please advise if you are able to help
Many thanks
D Mountain
I was wondering about the forget me not paperweight too. I have one. Could you send me any information you have about the paperweight. Thanks Lucy
Hello
I have a paperweight signed by a david paris 1959 can you tell me anything about it please? Thanks….N Miller
Pius X11
I have an old glass paperweight that has a photograph in it. How did they do that, how can I find out more about it and how rare is it?
Any information on this would be very welcome. Thanks, Jan
I have a paperweight that is approx. 1 3/4″ in diameter of clear glass with a cast iron lizard ( approx. 3″ long ) mounted on the top. i would love to know anything about it, maker, age, value.
I have a collection of about 7 weights some of millifiori they have no dates or names on them they were inherited. before that they belonged to his aunt. i do no they traveled quite abit. how can i date them?
I have several paperweights.One weight has a spider inside with long white legs,and it has a small weight that is used for the head. can you tell me anything about it. age or value.
hi we have been given a paper weight and have been told it is a Strathearn weight it has a tiny letter s inside it, it is egg shaped and has a red flower in it similar to the Strathearn glass paperweight with blue flower which we have found on the net but cant seem to find the red one just wondering if you could help us find anything about it . thanks
Hello
Can anyone tell me if St Louis france made any pressed glass paperweights,as I have a pressed clear glass lion weight with the raised S’LOUIS on the underside it is 14cmms long & 7 cmms tall
I would be grateful for any information.
Kind Regards
Alan
Are coins in paperweights as valuable as the coins by themselves?
i have an antique paperweight that i would like to find out if its a authentic baccarat millifiori made in italy in the middle 1800s. i did some research and i think its one that stands for a thousand flowers. i could not find my specific paperweight,its very asymetrical in design each cane is a flower design. each flower has six pedals in the canes, it has an gold ground under the design. can you tell me if you think it might be authentic.
I have a paper weight that my grandmother received in or about 1926. It has muti-color bottom, a clear disc above that with a cross and the words ROCK OF VAGES half mooned around the cross. Would like to know if there is any information that you may have, maker, year, etc. any assistance would be helpfull.
Thank you
I have a round clear glass paperweight with what looks like sheaves of wheat etched on the outside with blue and white flowers with clear stems of teardrop shaped glass inside….beautiful.
Also, under the flower (s) there is something white ‘floating” and looks like snow. The initials E D are signed in cursive and etched in the glass.
Could it be Elizabeth Degenhart? I know she did do some paperweights.
My parents lived in Florida. They met Mrs Degenhart before my mother’s passing in 1981 and purchased as well as collected a lot of her glassware.
My father just passed away, so now i have some of this wonderful collection. Thank you carol
Have egg shaped glass paperweight. Was my great aunts, so it at LEAST is from the 50’s, probably earlier. Has an oval gold nugget in it.
May I please get an idea if it’s a rarity?
thank you, kindly
Hi, I have an original HMSO Cast Iron Paperweight. I can’t seem to fin dmuch information about it, except that it’s likely to have been made between 1782 and 1822 as this is when the HMSO were supplying government departments, and I obtained it when I worked for the Inland revenue some years ago.
Please would you be able to give me any background information on it, and maybe a possible value?
Kind Regards.
Hi, I’ve recently started collecting paperweights, just because I’ve always loved glassware, and the art of crafting it into something beautiful. It also reminds me of my grandmother who had quite a collection, I like the weird and unusual, am I waisting my money buying novalty items or am I better investing money in collecting signed paperweights? Recently bought fish suspended in what looks like a bowl with weeds underneath, was this a wise buy? Regardless I like it and surely it should please the eye? That’s what makes things worth collecting? Yes?! Would love a reply regards Claire :)
Is a paper weight from Berlin Germany rare. It has a picture of the Victory Monument inside it. On the back it has Aus Berlin. I think it was brought over by my grandfather in 1912.
I have been looking for information regarding a glass paperweight that I have that has an old photo of a child inside. It is not an insert or glued on the bottom. It is actually “cast” inside the glass. I do see Jan Fels seemed to be asking the same question on 11/16/09. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Looking for history on a heavy clear glass paper weight etched on back with a large two story house,.Cadillac emblem in what appears to be a carport. Designers showhouse roman num.xxxlll
I have a multi floral tightly packed 2.5inch paper weight with one yellow flower with the letter p and the date 1975. You can only see this with a magnifying glass. Please could you give me any information on this piece please. It was given to me as a birthday present some years ago
I have a vintage paperweight. I can’t find any information about it. It is brass, round and says coach leatherware on top and around it it says bags, billfolds and belts. It has a horser
Need help identifying iron/ brass paperweight/doorstop shaped as bald head of fat man possibly wearing odd hat.
I have an Josh Simpson paperweight that i have aquired through an friend..it is signed and marked “1995” #4…any idea of the price or rarity of the piece??
Don’t be critical. Remember this article was published in 1943.
How much did we. or anybody know about paperweights then–very little.
I have an old glass IOOF FL&T paper weight given to me at the end of WW2 Does it have any value aside from fond memories?
I have a paper weight 3 3/4″ in dia convexed top with the Rolls Royce name and RR logo. The base is on and angle with a round fabric insert it is chrome plated .
Does this ring a bell with anyone ?
A Paul Ysart not collectible? Wow, how things have changed since then!
I have a paperweight from my great-grandma’s house, on the back it says ‘ROBIN by P. D. Whalley The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’, then if you peel the back slightly, you can see facts on the robin.
What might this be worth and is it rare?
-Lydia
I am looking for a Terry’s Orange crystal paperweight. I believe some were produced in the 1980’s, possibly in Canada. Any information or ideas about how I might find one would be appreciated.