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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Baccarat France faceted sulphide paperweight - The Princess Anne

Baccarat Princess Anne Sulphide Paperweight

Baccarat France faceted sulphide paperweight - The Princess Anne

A Victorian green glass sulphide paperweight dump, a bubble…

Victorian Green Glass Dog Paperweight

A Victorian green glass sulphide paperweight dump, a bubble domed section above the included dog. Height 12 cm

Baccarat crystal sulphide paperweight medallion British Royal…

Baccarat Royal Family Crystal Paperweight

Baccarat crystal sulphide paperweight medallion British Royal paper weights by John Pinches 1976, of 'Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Princess Anne & the Prince of Wales'. Condition good, minor scratches to the bases. Diameter 7.2 cm

A Baccarat paperweight by Albert David, 1966, a sulphide or…

Albert David Baccarat Paperweight with Theodore Roosevelt Sulphide Cameo

A Baccarat paperweight by Albert David, 1966, a sulphide or cameo paperweight on an amethyst background from a limited edition of 2000 and depicting President Theodore Roosevelt, designed by Albert David, the official sculptor of the French mint; Baccarat…

Baccarat sulphide paperweight of 'Princess Anne' with original…

Baccarat Princess Anne Sulphide Paperweight with Case and Stand

Baccarat sulphide paperweight of 'Princess Anne' with original case and stand

Baccarat sulphide paperweight of 'Joan of Arc'

Joan of Arc Baccarat Sulphide Paperweight

Baccarat sulphide paperweight of 'Joan of Arc'

Baccarat sulphide paperweight faceted paperweight, blue overlay…

Faceted Baccarat Sulphide Paperweight with Blue Overlay

Baccarat sulphide paperweight faceted paperweight, blue overlay to base (in case)

Baccarat sulphide paperweight faceted paperweight, blue overlay…

Blue Faceted Baccarat Sulphide Paperweight in Case

Baccarat sulphide paperweight faceted paperweight, blue overlay to base (in case)

A 19th century sulphide paperweight depicting a Roman emperor 6.…

Roman Emperor Sulphide Paperweight

A 19th century sulphide paperweight depicting a Roman emperor 6.5 cm diameter