Paperweights
Here
is a picture of some some antique paperweights. Glass paperweights as collectibles
date back over 150 years. All sources indicate that it takes a very keen understanding
of paperweights to correctly determine their value. It would seem that this would
make them a risky eBay purchase. Yet fine examples continue to sell at the online
auction house for thousands of dollars. The examples above were sold by auctioneer
Rick Kaufman at an auction in September
of 2003.
Types of Paperweights
Millefiori
- Looking a little like fancy peppermints millefiori are cut glass rods at the
base of paperweights. The cut glass rods have intricate patterns of crosses, whorls,
stars, silhouettes or other shapes. How
Milefiori are made.
Lampwork
- Rods of glass were made into various organic shapes like fruits, reptiles or
amphibians, flowers
Sulphide - Refers to a piece of ceramic, in the
shape of a medallion or cameo placed inside a paperweight.
Latticino
- A technique where a lattice like pattern was created for the background of the
piece
Here
are some upcoming auctions selling paperweights
An
excellent article on the history of paperweights.
This
article describes how to determine the age and value of a paperweight
