Flashback Alley : RSS Products Feed :: Paperweights

Blue Spiral Art Glass Paperweight - Signed

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:56:36 -0700

Hypnotize yourself or others with this awesome spiral art glass paperweight, with an inner dome of royal blue speckled with a touch of white and a milky blue spiral twist that goes up and round, dropping into the top center to a controlled bubble finish.� In excellent condition, this paperweight is signed Fernandez GV 81, likely the 1981 work of an art glass artisan unknown to me.� Has a smooth and polished inset pontil mark.� Paperweight measures 2-1/2" high and 2-3/4" in diameter.

Murano Refractive Cyclone Art Glass Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:41:17 -0700

This vintage art glass paperweight inspires thoughts of a spiraling storm with the storm's eye hovering overhead -- a large, single controlled clear bubble floating at the center of a cloud of blue.� Circling the outer perimeter of the paperweight sides is a reddish brown coil, the reflection of which can be seen in the refractive properties of the bubble.

Measures approx. 3" in diameter and 2-3/4" high.� In excellent condition, with no nicks or scratches noted, just the typical tiny encased air bubbles and some shelf wear on the base.� Made In Italy foil label on a flat polished base.

Fratelli Toso Apple Murano Art Glass Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:34:18 -0700

Seeming almost as American as apple pie, this red, white, and blue Murano art glass paperweight displays a delicious red apple encased in a clear (seeming white in the light) on a thin bed of blue -- that all but disappears at certain angles! The apple stem and leaf glistens with flecks of copper (or is it gold?) aventurine.

The black-on-silver Venetian Glass - Castle Murano foil label was one not familiar to me, but researching it further, I discovered that it was frequently associated with the work of Fratelli Toso. A closer inspection of the round label on the underside confirms that it is a mostly worn Murano Glass - Made in Italy blue on silver metallic label used by Fratelli Toso.

This paperweight measures 3-1/2" in diameter and approx. 2-3/4" high, with a weight of 1-3/4 lb. In near excellent condition, with a couple of superficial tooling marks and a short scratch up by the leaf that do not detract.

Green and White Trumpet Flower Glass Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:34:32 -0700

Vintage egg-shaped art glass paperweight, believed to be of Chinese origin, with three green and white speckled trumpet flowers with clear controlled bubble stamens at the center of each bloom.� Stands approx. 2-1/2" high.� In good condition, with a few small nicks on and around the base and a minor rub on the top.

French 1978 Schmid Sister Berta Hummel Visage Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:33:57 -0700

Fabulous faceted French art glass paperweight featuring a cameo image of Sister Berta Hummel by Schmid dating to 1978. The white cameo sulphide is set on a cobalt blue ground, with the paperweight numbered on the underside, #1178 in a series of 4,000. Signed Sister Berta Hummel Visage Paperweight * France * 1978 * � Schmid * 1178 * 4000. In excellent condition with a bit of shelf wear to the underside, but no nicks, chips, or scratches noted to the displayed surfaces.

English Royal Mint 1989 Pound Coin Queen Elizabeth Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:31:14 -0700

Prism shaped, like an eight-sided pyramid with a flat upper surface, this vintage acrylic paperweight displays an English One Pound coin from the Royal mint, issued in 1989. Adding to the visual appeal, the top of the paperweight appears to have a red flash finish which, combined with the gold coin below, gives it an amberina look.

The obverse design on the coin issued that year shows Queen Elizabeth II, while the reverse side (which changed year to year from 1983 and 2008), shows the design originally issued in 1984, which is the thistle sprig in a coronet, representing Scotland. The edge inscription on the coin reads NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT, or translated, No one provokes me with impunity, the Latin motto of the Order of the Thistle.

Measuring 2-1/4" high with a base diameter of 3-3/4", this paperweight is in very good condition, with some light surface marks that do not detract from its appeal.

1974 Wheaton Commemorative Collectors Guild Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:30:01 -0700

According to the label on the underside of this paperweight, it was handmade exclusively for the Wheaton Commemorative Collectors Guild in 1974.� With a wedge form measuring approx. 3-1/2" high, 2-3/4" wide, and 1-3/8" deep at the top and 1-3/4" deep at the base, this substantial paperweight has an image of a decanter, with a "W" in the center, impressed on the back surface, giving it an interesting view from the front.

This paperweight is in very good condition. One on side near the top is an uneven patch, that at first glance looks like a ding or a chip in the glass, however to touch, most of it projects out instead of in, leaving me to think it was excess glass that was not ground or sanded down.

Urchin Swirl Art Glass Paperweight with Controlled Bubbles

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:53:25 -0700

Adding to my offering of paperweights, this fabulous art glass paperweight has an urchin-like inner large bubble in a swirl of white, yellow, and green, with a touch of pink, and controlled clear bubbles on its surface.� The clear outer glass has another layer of larger controlled bubbles. �

This paperweight is one of those times where, try as I might in retaking photos, there's just no way I can convey through photos the fabulous intrigue of the piece in hand.� It's safe to say that if you like what you see in the photos, you'll LOVE what you see when it's in your home!

As this paperweight is unsigned, I've asked a few of the experts, and none of us are able to come up with a definitive maker, although some have suggested Joseph Gentile or that factory, which typically signed their paperweights with a hot stamped signature.� If anyone has an answer certain, I'd love to hear from you.

Measuring approx. 3" high and 3-1/4" in diameter, this paperweight is in excellent condition, with no nicks or scratches noted.� Prepacked weight: Approx. 1.75 lbs.

Large Tiered Swirling Trumpet Flower Art Glass Paperweight

AlleyAdmin@flashbackalley.com (Holly) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:22:52 -0700

This large�art glass paperweight is one that I acquired some time back through Gary Levi's estate. Featuring three stacked trumpet flowers in shades of blue and white, the trailing bubble flower tips appear to swirl amidst controlled bubbles in a tapered dome paperweight. Two of the paperweight sides are facet cut, as if to provide a close-up window view of the artistry at the center.

This paperweight is not signed, but I speculate it was a test run by Levi himself. Although smooth and flat, the two window facets are not uniform in size and one is out of round (the result of a tapered surface that was then polished down flat).

Unique and wonderful in its own right, even if not perfect in form, this art glass paperweight measures approx. 3-3/4" high (and weighs approx. 2-1/4 lb). No nicks, chips, or cracks, but there is evidence of shelf ware on the underside and a patch of surface scratch off to one side, smooth to the touch but visible to the eye at a certain angle.