Glass PaperweightsAlthough people have been using rocks or other items to hold down papers for hundreds, if not thousands of years, it wasn't until the mid-1840s that glass paperweights appeared and instantly became a hit with everyone from royalty to sailors. This can be attributed not only to the beauty and intricate designs available right from the start, but also to a lowering of postage rates that led to an upsurge in letter and card writing in the Victorian era. Glass paperweights were introduced as a fashionable way to keep papers from blowing away in the breeze, but there are plenty of them that were so beautiful that they were never actually used for this purpose. The very first documented glass paperweight can be traced to the year 1845 during the Exhibition of Austrian Industry when the art glass of Pietro Bigaglia of Venice was displayed. Word got around quickly and the prestigious Saint-Louis glass factory in France immediately began to manufacture its own paperweights, introducing their first design that same year. Etched glass paperweights came along later, and remain very popular today as inexpensive and elegant gifts and advertisements for hotels and companies. To a novice collector, it may seem like there's no one in the world that shares their interest in paperweights, but in reality they are one of the most beloved forms of glasswork in the world and are collected by all kinds of people. There are international and local clubs that bring together collectors of glass paperweights, giving them a chance to find others who share their passion and trade paperweights at meetings and conventions. Unlike some of the other, better known forms of glasswork, it is relatively inexpensive for a new collector to get started in this hobby. Although some antique paperweights have been known to sell for upwards of $30,000, they are definitely the exceptions. Beginning collectors can easily acquire some very nice antique weights for $500 or less, and more modern designs start as low as $50. Etched glass paperweights are some of the most affordable pieces out there, and can even be custom engraved with the name or logo of a company (and even pictures of pets or loved ones!) for a reasonable fee. Incredible effort goes into making a beautiful glass paperweight, and the process is one of the most fascinating ever. Even today, some of the same ancient glass making techniques and methods from the 1800s are used to create modern works of art as well. Pieces of glass on the end of a metal rod are heated and then shaped into a pattern by dipping it in a metal mold to get the desired effect, then stretched by pulling on both sides to create a long, thin rod of glass. When this rod cools it will be cut into slices to include in a weight during the encasement process, which is where the glass designs are inserted into crystal. The crystal is then repeatedly heated to over 3000 degrees with a torch to keep it pliable until the shape is perfectly round, creating a flower with glass rods using a torch. Another, similar process called lampwork is also used to create intricate designs for glass paperweights, and it requires exceptional skill by the artisan since they must carve each design from hand rather than using a mold at the beginning. Many collectors today believe that paperweights are too often thought of as a novelty item or piece of kitsch, which is most likely due to a lack of public exposure. In reality, glass paperweights are one of the most beautiful and breathtaking collectibles available today and are much, much more than most people think. Of course, all it takes is one look to realize that these are truly works of art that deserve to be admired...so go ahead, show off your collection! |