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...

23 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A 19th century bronze and ivory paperweight, modelled as a…

A 19th century bronze and ivory paperweight, modelled as a young girl on ivory section. Length, 13 cm.

A gilt bronze paperweight inkwell set with malachite cabochons,…

Malachite Cabochon Paperweight Inkwell Set

A gilt bronze paperweight inkwell set with malachite cabochons, the octagonal well and square base with canted corners engraved with floral scrolls. 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm

A collection of pewter and wood desk objects, 19th century and…

Antique Pewter and Wood Desk Objects

A collection of pewter and wood desk objects, 19th century and later, comprising a polished mahogany travelling chamberstick, a florin case, a bronze scarab, a set of Gothic motif wick trimmers and a paperweight, the wick trimmers 17 cm long

Kosta Sweden sea Glas Bruk bronze cat paperweight signed lower…

Bronze Cat Paperweight by Kosta Sweden Sea Glas Bruk

Kosta Sweden sea Glas Bruk bronze cat paperweight signed lower base, height 15 cm.

A pair of cast bronze platypus paperweights, a silverplated…

Australian Wildlife Bronze and Silver Collectibles

A pair of cast bronze platypus paperweights, a silverplated kookaburra by Dunklings, a miniature bronze kangaroo and a miniature silver kangaroo, (5), length of the platypus 9.5 cm

Two Russian bronze and marble paperweights depicting Russian…

Russian Church Paperweights

Two Russian bronze and marble paperweights depicting Russian Orthodox churches tallest measures 8.8 cm high, 13 cm wide

Early shell form bronze paperweight, height 5 cm

Bronze Shell Paperweight - 5cm Height

Early shell form bronze paperweight, height 5 cm

A prototype (') bronze cast New Zealand paperweight, appearing…

WWII Women's Service Bronze Paperweight Prototype

A prototype (') bronze cast New Zealand paperweight, appearing to reference women's service during World War II. In the style of New Zealand art of the late '40s and early '50s (Mervyn Taylor style), the double-sided disc features a globe with stylised…

A Bent Anderson bronze paperweight desk ornament, signed Bent…

Bent Anderson Seedpod Bronze Paperweight

A Bent Anderson bronze paperweight desk ornament, signed Bent 89, of naturalistic seedpod form, 12.5 x 9 cm

A Chinese bronze paperweight in the form of a ram, Length 8.5 cm

Chinese Bronze Ram Paperweight

A Chinese bronze paperweight in the form of a ram, Length 8.5 cm

An Australian bronze and blackwood paperweight, circa 1900, 8…

Australian Bronze and Blackwood Paperweight, circa 1900

An Australian bronze and blackwood paperweight, circa 1900, 8 cm diametre

Bronze fairy paperweight, signed & on a marble base, 8 cm…

Signed Bronze Fairy Paperweight on Marble Base (8cm)

Bronze fairy paperweight, signed & on a marble base, 8 cm approx.

Chinese bronze temple dog opium paperweight H5 cm approx

Chinese Bronze Temple Dog Opium Weight

Chinese bronze temple dog opium paperweight H5 cm approx

Bronze paperweight decorated with chickens, approx 6.5 cm high,…

Bronze Chicken Paperweight

Bronze paperweight decorated with chickens, approx 6.5 cm high, 11 cm dia

Japanese bronze signed paperweight of Samurai scholar with an…

Japanese Samurai Scholar Bronze Paperweight

Japanese bronze signed paperweight of Samurai scholar with an etched character signature to the base. Length 22 cm

A Chinese bronze patinated paperweight, depicting a scholar…

Scholar Reading under Tree

A Chinese bronze patinated paperweight, depicting a scholar reading under a tree. Height 13.6 cm

A pair of bronze elephant paperweights or bookends, each with a…

Bronze Elephant Trio Paperweights

A pair of bronze elephant paperweights or bookends, each with a trio of trumpeting elephants of graduating sizes upon green onyx bases. Height 11 cm. Width 12 cm. Depth 8 cm

Antique French bronze inkstand, mounted on a green marble base,…

French Bronze Inkstand with Claw and Feather Paperweight

Antique French bronze inkstand, mounted on a green marble base, along with a bronze claw and feather paperweight, approx 13m high, 40 cm long (2)

A Chinese bronze figure group paperweight the paperweight…

Bronze Boy with Monkey and Oxen Paperweight

A Chinese bronze figure group paperweight the paperweight depicts a boy with a monkey on his back, alongside a playful oxen. Height 7.5 cm. Length 12 cm

Bronze and red marble six piece desk setting comprising a…

Bronze and Red Marble Desk Set

Bronze and red marble six piece desk setting comprising a double ink well pedestal with a figure of a bronze tiger, a bulldog ashtray, another bulldog paperweight, an ink blotter, a letter opener and a stamp seal. Length of pedestal 35 cm

Three bronze medallion and plaques, including 'London' gilded…

Bronze Medallions and Plaques, Including London and Beethoven Profiles

Three bronze medallion and plaques, including 'London' gilded bronze; profile of Beethoven by F. Stiasny; and Chateau Pierrefonds bronze and marble paperweight. 8 x 6 cm (London)

A novelty pair of bronze miniature Curling stone form…

Bronze Curling Stone Paperweight - Miniature Novelty

A novelty pair of bronze miniature Curling stone form paperweight 5.5 cm diameter

Set of three Vienna bronze paperweights in the form of a…

Vienna Bronze Animal Skin Paperweights Set

Set of three Vienna bronze paperweights in the form of a crocodile skin rug, zebra skin rug and a lion skin rug