Paperweights, used to hold down papers, and most commonly made in glass, evolved in Venice in the early nineteenth century, and spread to France via Bohemia about 1845, where the finest examples were produced by three factories: Baccarat, Clichy and St Louis. Examples from these manufacturers are mostly unmarked and widely faked and imitated and thus a minefield for the uninitiated. The most popular motif is millefiori ('thousand flowers'), though fruit, single flowers, insects, and other small objects are often used as well as portraits and view. The cheaper paperweights use air bubbles as decoration. The classic paperweights are round and domed, but lesser weights were also made in the form of pyramids and rectangles. The early period of paperweights is reckoned to have ended in 1870 but some 20th century manufacturers such as Lalique, Kosta Boda, Whitefriars and Caithness Glass have produced some fine examples. The great majority of more...

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A celadon jade 'Willow landscape' paperweight, Jiajing to Wanli…

A celadon jade 'Willow landscape' paperweight, Jiajing to Wanli period, 4.1 cm wide, 0.8 cm thick, 35g

Chinese Liuligongfang Art glass paperweight. Green and amber…

Chinese Liuligongfang Art glass paperweight. Green and amber glass. Engraved to base, 7 x 7 x 3 cm. Provenance: Estate late Prue Socha, Sydney.

A whale harpoon desk ornament paperweight, cast metal and green…

A whale harpoon desk ornament paperweight, cast metal and green marble, 9 cm high

'Abigail new Bedford' desk ornament paperweight in the form of…

'Abigail new Bedford' desk ornament paperweight in the form of a whaler's harpoon, mounted on whale's tooth, 10 cm high, 15 cm wide

Patrick Wong Art glass paperweight, signed

Patrick Wong Art glass paperweight, signed "P.W. 2016", 12 cm high

A Chinese carved rosewood paperweight, length 33.5 cm

A Chinese carved rosewood paperweight, length 33.5 cm

Boxed Royal Doulton rabbit paperweight 2010 for you rabbit

Boxed Royal Doulton rabbit paperweight 2010 for you rabbit

Boxed Royal Doulton snuffle pig paperweight 2012 collectors…

Boxed Royal Doulton snuffle pig paperweight 2012 collectors guild

Two Benjamin Edols & Kathy Elliotts glass paperweights…

Two Benjamin Edols & Kathy Elliotts glass paperweights (Australians born 1964 & 1967), blown glass in green and purple, each with engraved maker's mark, length 11 and 14 cm. (2)

A German Imperial commemorative Bismarck plaque, 19th century,…

A German Imperial commemorative Bismarck plaque, 19th century, the rectangular cast iron relief plaque, depicting Otto Von Bismarck on horseback as St George slaying the dragon, in oval reserve surrounded by a scrolling banner inscribed 'Unter Funf…

Colin Heaney iridescent Art glass starfish, paperweight, 15 x…

Colin Heaney iridescent Art glass starfish, paperweight, 15 x 15 cm

Australian prime minister cast iron paper weight Sir George…

Australian prime minister cast iron paper weight Sir George Houston Reid 1845-1918 Premier, Prime Minister and High Commissioner, height 12.5 cm

Pair Victorian glass paperweights, paper backed with portraits…

Victorian Glass Paperweights: Queen Victoria & Prince Albert Portraits

Pair Victorian glass paperweights, paper backed with portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, some losses to image, diameter 7.5 cm

Wedgwood glass dolphin paperweight

Wedgwood Dolphin Glass Paperweight

Wedgwood glass dolphin paperweight

Early Stephen  Morris Australian glass paperweight

Early Australian Glass Paperweight by Stephen Morris

Early Stephen Morris Australian glass paperweight

Rosenthal Versace Medusa head frosted glass paperweight

Frosted Glass Medusa Head Paperweight by Rosenthal Versace

Rosenthal Versace Medusa head frosted glass paperweight

Australiana: An array of souvenir wares including Harbour…

20th Century Australian Souvenir Wares: Bridge Paperweights, Ashtrays, Pottery

Australiana: An array of souvenir wares including Harbour Bridge opening glass paperweights, ashtrays, pottery ornaments and vases, etc, 20th century (qty)

A Cartier crystal apple paperweight, height 9 cm

Cartier Crystal Apple Paperweight: Elegant 9cm Height

A Cartier crystal apple paperweight, height 9 cm

Peter Raos,

"Monet Spring" Glass Paperweight by Peter Raos (1983)

Peter Raos, "Monet Spring" glass paperweight, signed Raos New Zealand, 1983

Peter Raos, Calla Lillies glass paperweight, signed Raos 1997…

Signed Peter Raos Calla Lillies Glass Paperweight 1997 New Zealand

Peter Raos, Calla Lillies glass paperweight, signed Raos 1997 New Zealand

A Mats Jonasson, Sweden crystal paperweight depicting a koala,…

Swedish Crystal Koala Paperweight - Signed, Boxed (8cm Diameter)

A Mats Jonasson, Sweden crystal paperweight depicting a koala, signature to base, in original box, diameter 8 cm

An Australian Art glass paperweight, pink flowers & blue bird,…

Australian Glass Paperweight: Pink Flowers and Blue Bird

An Australian Art glass paperweight, pink flowers & blue bird, height 11 cm

St. Louis 'Nose Gay' antique French glass paperweight, 19th…

19th Century French Glass Paperweight from St. Louis, 4x5.5cm

St. Louis 'Nose Gay' antique French glass paperweight, 19th century, 4 cm high, 5.5 cm wide

An Italian Micromosaic paperweight depicting the Pantheon, Rome,…

19th Century Italian Micromosaic Pantheon Paperweight

An Italian Micromosaic paperweight depicting the Pantheon, Rome, mid 19th century, the oval mosaic set within a border of red and blue stones in a rectangular black marble plaque with bevelled and fluted sides, 0.9 cm high, 15.5 cm wide, 10.5 cm deep,

A pate-de-verre mouse paperweight by Daum Nancy, early 20th…

Daum Nancy Mouse Paperweight

A pate-de-verre mouse paperweight by Daum Nancy, early 20th century, realistically modelled in deep blue and green colours, signed to base, 'Daum Nancy' with cross of Lorraine, 6 cm high, 7.5 cm wide, 9 cm deep

Art Glass paperweight with internal gilt decoration, inscribed…

Gilded Glass: Inscribed Art Paperweight - 7cm Height

Art Glass paperweight with internal gilt decoration, inscribed to base, height 7 cm.

Alan fox (Western Australia) 'Shell' series iridescent art…

Iridescent Shell Paperweight by Alan Fox

Alan fox (Western Australia) 'Shell' series iridescent art glass paperweight, engraved 'A.F. '02, W.A.', 4.5 cm high, 8 cm wide

A white Chinese jade phoenix paperweight, Qing Dynasty, 18th…

White Jade Phoenix Paperweight, Qing Dynasty

A white Chinese jade phoenix paperweight, Qing Dynasty, 18th century, 8.5 x 7 cm. Provenance: A private collection NSW and USA.

A Chinese hongmu paper weight, early 20th century carved with…

Chinese Hongmu Paperweight with Carved Bamboo and Inscription, Signed

A Chinese hongmu paper weight, early 20th century carved with bamboo, and inscribed and signed, and one carved seal of Zheng Bian, 56 cm long

Royal Worcester pill boxes, glass ornament and paperweights,…

Royal Worcester Pottery Collection

Royal Worcester pill boxes, glass ornament and paperweights, two pot lids (reproduction) and a pottery fragment in the Columbian style, (8 items), the pot lids 12.5 cm diameter

Jonathon Westacott paperweight, titled 'Anemone' No.766…

Sea Life Anemone Paperweight

Jonathon Westacott paperweight, titled 'Anemone' No.766 striking sea life amongst bubble design diameter 11 cm

Art glass oversize paperweight, striking bubble and ribbon…

Roberta Easton Art Glass Paperweight

Art glass oversize paperweight, striking bubble and ribbon design in pink and rust colour, incised signature 'Roberta Easton 1998' to base

A Cathy Richardson paperweight, decorated with an undersea…

Undersea garden paperweight by Cathy Richardson

A Cathy Richardson paperweight, decorated with an undersea garden, signed and dated 2007 to base, height 14 cm.

A collection of Australian themed memorabilia, comprising: a…

Australian Memorabilia Collection

A collection of Australian themed memorabilia, comprising: a 1962 commemorative paperweight, the One Millionth Holden; a Hawker Demon plaque; a Royal Australian Airforce commemorative medallion; a Royal Australian Airforce diamond jubilee plate, and a…

Midsummers glass mushroom paperweight, speckled pink art glass…

Pink Speckled Glass Mushroom Paperweight from England

Midsummers glass mushroom paperweight, speckled pink art glass mushroom made in England

G.Roper abstract design paperweight, space like blue and black…

Galactic Blue Paperweight with Air Bubbles

G.Roper abstract design paperweight, space like blue and black velvet internal decoration interspersed with air bubbles

Contemporary art glass paperweight, Tuti Fruiti multicolour…

Tuti Fruiti Glass Paperweight

Contemporary art glass paperweight, Tuti Fruiti multicolour decoration on white ground, signed to base

An Italian micromosaic paperweight depicting the Pantheon, Rome,…

Italian Micromosaic Paperweight of Pantheon, Rome

An Italian micromosaic paperweight depicting the Pantheon, Rome, mid 19th century, the oval mosaic set within a malachite border in a shaped black marble plaque with fluted sides, 2 cm high, 17 cm wide, 12.5 cm deep

A rare antique Saint Louis paperweight, with a formal…

Root Vegetable Paperweight by Saint Louis

A rare antique Saint Louis paperweight, with a formal arrangement of root vegetables of turnips and radishes with leafy green tops on a white latticinio basket. Other Notes: Saint Louis was the only 19th century French factory to make vegetables the…

A Steuben glass swirl paperweight by George Thompson, height 9…

Swirl Paperweight by George Thompson

A Steuben glass swirl paperweight by George Thompson, height 9 cm

New Zealand studio glass paperweight clear glass with white…

Signed Clear Glass Paperweight with White Swirl, 2009

New Zealand studio glass paperweight clear glass with white swirl signed indistinctly 7 dated '09 10 cm diameter

art glass ovoid paperweight swirl pattern to egg form glass…

Swirled Ovoid Glass Paperweight with Signature

art glass ovoid paperweight swirl pattern to egg form glass paperweight, signature to base, height 10 cm.

Iittala Finland glass cat paperweight signed Martti Lehto,…

Signed Iittala Glass Cat Paperweight by Martti Lehto

Iittala Finland glass cat paperweight signed Martti Lehto, sticker to base, height 13.5 cm

George III fruitwood desk paperweight carved with crowned naval…

Royal Naval Coat of Arms Paperweight

George III fruitwood desk paperweight carved with crowned naval coat of arms 10 cm length

Victorian slate malachite and classical portrait cameo desk…

Victorian Malachite & Cameo Desk Paperweight (Faulty)

Victorian slate malachite and classical portrait cameo desk paperweight 15 cm length (faults)

Marc Kalifa Australian art glass paperweight with landscape…

Australian Landscape Glass Paperweight by Marc Kalifa

Marc Kalifa Australian art glass paperweight with landscape scene signed 'Kalifa, 5.5/87' 9 cm high

Vintage Aspirin pill paper weight, 9 cm diameter

Vintage Aspirin Pill Paperweight

Vintage Aspirin pill paper weight, 9 cm diameter

Antique Pietra-Dura paper weight, black marble and semi…

Antique Pietra-Dura Cross Paper Weight

Antique Pietra-Dura paper weight, black marble and semi precious stones in the form of a cross, 11 cm x 7.5 cm

A Swedish Maleras paperweight designed by Mats Jonasson, with a…

Mats Jonasson Maleras Reverse Flower Paperweight

A Swedish Maleras paperweight designed by Mats Jonasson, with a reverse flower image, height 18 cm, width 8 cm, depth 6 cm

An art glass paperweight, signed Davison James to base, height…

Signed Davison James Art Glass Paperweight - 18cm Height

An art glass paperweight, signed Davison James to base, height 18 cm

A Peter Raos art glass pear paperweight, unsigned, height 11.5…

Raos Art Glass Pear Paperweight - Unsigned

A Peter Raos art glass pear paperweight, unsigned, height 11.5 cm, width 7.5 cm

A blue flower art glass paperweight, height 10 cm, diameter 8.5…

Blue Art Glass Flower Paperweight - 10cm Height

A blue flower art glass paperweight, height 10 cm, diameter 8.5 cm

A pair of clear glass paperweights, height 7.5 cm, diameter 7.5…

Clear Glass Paperweights, 7.5cm Height and Diameter

A pair of clear glass paperweights, height 7.5 cm, diameter 7.5 cm

A superb Peter Raos Pohutakawa paperweight, inscribed…

Project Crimson Pohutakawa Paperweight

A superb Peter Raos Pohutakawa paperweight, inscribed 'Celebrating New Zealand's Christmas Tree Through Project Crimson Carter Holt Harvey December 2001' to bottom, height 8.5 cm, diameter 7 cm

A Hoglund art glass paperweight, etched manufacturers marks to…

Hoglund Art Glass Paperweight with Etched Marks

A Hoglund art glass paperweight, etched manufacturers marks to base, height 6 cm, diameter 6.5 cm

A double apple glass paperweight, handblown. With exterior…

Handblown Double Apple Glass Paperweight

A double apple glass paperweight, handblown. With exterior clear glass and interior yellow glass, height 8.5 cm, diameter 7.5 cm

Gilded California bear paperweight souvenir of the California…

Midwinter 1894 Gilded California Bear Paperweight Souvenir

Gilded California bear paperweight souvenir of the California Midwinter 1894. Marked 'Warranted Quadruple plate 126', length 10 cm

A Peter Viesnik glass paperweight dichroic and sommerso emerald…

Emerald Green Dichroic Glass Paperweight by Peter Viesnik

A Peter Viesnik glass paperweight dichroic and sommerso emerald green with controlled bubbles. Signed and dated '02, height 11 cm

An Art Deco style, frosted glass 'Tete de Cheval' paperweight…

Art Deco Horse Paperweight from Vannes, France

An Art Deco style, frosted glass 'Tete de Cheval' paperweight acid etched mark 'Art - Vannes - France' under the base, height 13 cm

Carved marine ivory fish decorated paperweight length 8 cm .

Marine Ivory Fish Paperweight

Carved marine ivory fish decorated paperweight length 8 cm .

Colin Heaney studio glass whale paperweight circular studio…

Colin Heaney Whale Glass Paperweight

Colin Heaney studio glass whale paperweight circular studio glass paperweight, with whale decoration, Colin Heaney adhesive stamp verso, diameter 10.5 cm

Alum bay glass paperweight, Isle of Wight hand made with…

Isle of Wight Sea Swirl Glass Paperweight

Alum bay glass paperweight, Isle of Wight hand made with abstract sea like white swirl decoration. Paper label to base

art glass paperweight, satin finish in white with random tutti…

Tutti Frutti Satin Glass Paperweight

art glass paperweight, satin finish in white with random tutti frutti colour

A crystal glass cat paperweight by Val St Lambert, France, 10…

Val St Lambert Crystal Glass Cat Paperweight

A crystal glass cat paperweight by Val St Lambert, France, 10 cm high

Chinese art glass paperweight, of oval form set with two…

Mythical creature glass paperweight

Chinese art glass paperweight, of oval form set with two central wells and decorated with mythical creatures, in tones of red, pink and orange, signed and dated to base, height 4 cm width 9 cm

Chinese art glass paperweight, of cylindrical form, set with…

Chinese Quilong Art Glass Paperweight

Chinese art glass paperweight, of cylindrical form, set with central well and two Quilong, in orange tones, signed and numbered to base, height 5.5 cm, diameter 7 cm

A large art glass Universe paperweight, with internal galaxy…

Galactic Universe Art Glass Paperweight

A large art glass Universe paperweight, with internal galaxy style centre. Height 11 cm, diameter 10 cm

A green art glass paperweight, height 8 cm, width 6 cm

Green Art Glass Paperweight - 8x6cm

A green art glass paperweight, height 8 cm, width 6 cm

A Keith Grinter Hand-Painted paperweight, Teardrop form,…

Hand-painted Metallic Teardrop Paperweight by Keith Grinter

A Keith Grinter Hand-Painted paperweight, Teardrop form, hand-painted in metallic pink and blue tones. Height 16.5 cm, width 9 cm, diameter 5 cm

Two art glass paperweights, including one Australian

Australian Art Glass Paperweight and More

Two art glass paperweights, including one Australian

Three art glass paperweights including Phoenician Maltese glass…

Assorted Art Glass Paperweights

Three art glass paperweights including Phoenician Maltese glass and a Godinger USA glass

Large Matt Jonasson orange tiger glass paperweight etched…

Orange Tiger Glass Paperweight by Matt Jonasson

Large Matt Jonasson orange tiger glass paperweight etched signature and number 3851, width 22.5 cm

Two French glass paperweights the blue Sevres in the form of a…

French Glass Paperweights: Sevres Top & Daum Fish

Two French glass paperweights the blue Sevres in the form of a spinning top, the red fish Daum, height 7 cm

Wedgwood art glass owl paperweight height 11 cm

Wedgwood Owl Paperweight

Wedgwood art glass owl paperweight height 11 cm

Daum France art glass paperweight marked to base, height 12.5 cm

Daum France Art Glass Paperweight, 12.5 cm Height

Daum France art glass paperweight marked to base, height 12.5 cm

Three pieces of Scandinavian art glass, including a Holmegaard…

Scandinavian Art Glass Trio

Three pieces of Scandinavian art glass, including a Holmegaard plate, a sea 'Bow' vase, and an Ekenas yellow glass paperweight. Largest height 16 cm, width 9 cm

A pair of Iittala glass paperweights, one with moulded bear…

Iittala Glass Animal Paperweights

A pair of Iittala glass paperweights, one with moulded bear decoration, the other with applied cat decoration. Manufacturer's labels attached. Largest height 12 cm

A pair of Swedish glass paperweights, one in the form of an…

Swedish Glass Elephant and Owl Paperweights

A pair of Swedish glass paperweights, one in the form of an elephant by mats Jonasson, the other in the form of an owl. Etched signature to base. Largest height 14.5 cm

A Garry Nash paperweight, hand signed and dated 2000. Height 8…

Hand-signed Garry Nash Paperweight (2000) - 8cm height

A Garry Nash paperweight, hand signed and dated 2000. Height 8 cm, depth 7 cm

A Christian Lacroix for Christofle vintage 1998 limited edition…

Lacroix Christofle Limited Edition Unicorn Sphynx Paperweight

A Christian Lacroix for Christofle vintage 1998 limited edition silverplated unicorn sphynx paperweight, height 8 cm

Antique oak desk set, and ornate paperweight

Oak Desk Set & Ornate Paperweight

Antique oak desk set, and ornate paperweight

art glass paperweight, high quality artistic floral internal…

Perthshire Art Glass Paperweight with Floral Decoration

art glass paperweight, high quality artistic floral internal decoration, attributed to Perth shire, signature mark to base '198875'

Punch studio French crystal paperweight

French Crystal Paperweight by Punch Studio

Punch studio French crystal paperweight

Selkirk 'Flower' Scottish limited edition floral glass…

Limited Edition Scottish Floral Glass Paperweight

Selkirk 'Flower' Scottish limited edition floral glass paperweight, 20th century, engraved 'Selkirik glass, Scotland, flower 235/500, 1980', with original paper label, 4 cm high, 5 cm diameter

A Christoffle dice form paperweight, size 4 cm cubed

Christoffle Paperweight - 4cm Cube

A Christoffle dice form paperweight, size 4 cm cubed

Pair of rare Victorian 'Lion after Landseer' moulded glass…

Victorian Lion Glass Paperweights by John Derbyshire

Pair of rare Victorian 'Lion after Landseer' moulded glass large paperweights manufactured by John Derbyshire of Manchester, circa 1874

Pair of glass paperweights, one of domed form, in the form of…

Flower and Oval Glass Paperweights

Pair of glass paperweights, one of domed form, in the form of an orange flower, the other of oval form with blue, red, green and white glass to centre, (2)

Archimede Seguso (Italian, 1909-1999), paperweight, c.1993,…

Archimede Seguso Limited Edition Glass Paperweight

Archimede Seguso (Italian, 1909-1999), paperweight, c.1993, clear and coloured glass, with control air bubble, limited edition 35/100, signed and dated to base, height 12 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Sydney

A white jade carved paperweight of two phoenix, Qing Dynasty,…

White Jade Phoenix Paperweight

A white jade carved paperweight of two phoenix, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th century the well polished jade is finely carved with a pair of phoenix side by side, with the male bird turning the head to the female, and tails joining together, each is holding a…

Good signed art glass paperweight iridescent with floral…

Iridescent Floral Art Glass Paperweight, Signed

Good signed art glass paperweight iridescent with floral decoration, signed to base, width 8 cm

An Italian Grand Tour hardstone shaped paperweight, 19th…

19th Century Italian Hardstone Paperweight

An Italian Grand Tour hardstone shaped paperweight, 19th century, 6 cm high, 8 cm wide

A pair of antique glass paperweight plaques with Oxford…

Antique Oxford University Glass Paperweight Plaques

A pair of antique glass paperweight plaques with Oxford University scenes, 19th century, 9 cm diameter

Peter Raos art glass Pacific domed paperweight, etched…

Pacific Dome Paperweight by Peter Raos

Peter Raos art glass Pacific domed paperweight, etched signature & dated 1997, 7 cm dia.

Paperweight, large art glass millifiori paperweight with 1853…

1853 Millifiori Art Glass Paperweight

Paperweight, large art glass millifiori paperweight with 1853 date

Mats Jonasson signed glass owl paperweight 11.5 cm high

Signed Glass Owl Paperweight by Mats Jonasson

Mats Jonasson signed glass owl paperweight 11.5 cm high

A collection of eleven mostly glass animal items, a Goebel…

Glass Animal Collection

A collection of eleven mostly glass animal items, a Goebel frosted seal paperweight, a frosted bird faceted crystal pin dish, four unmarked blown clear glass birds and penguins, a Norwegian Hadeland clear glass polar bear, a Swedish intaglio rabbit…