Did you know that the history of the paperweight dates back to an interest in writing letters during the Victorian period? Paperweights were as decorative back then as they are now. Using such techniques as lampwork, “cameo incrustation” and millefiori, glass makers created the paperweights in beautiful patterns.
In 1845, visitors to the “Exhibition of Austrian Industry,” which was held in Vienna, feasted their eyes upon breathtaking beauty and the popularity of the paperweight surged until it reached the American consumer in 1852. If you would like to read more about the history of the paperweight, read The History of Paperweights by the Illinois State Museum.
Paperweights not only hold down paper but they can also be used as:
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Garden Globes
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Centerpieces
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Doorstops
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Bookends
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A collective grouping
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A collection in a clear vase
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Art decoration on a shelf or bookcase
Shop: CyneburgsField
Mazurka No. Tree - Art Paperweight...N/A
Listen closely or you might miss the songs flowing from the song tree to the Baby Grand Piano. Look closely you can see the notes on the tree. CyneburgFields of California created this beautiful glass paperweight with a cork bottom.
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Shop: Marbleheadglass
Cosmic Swirl Paperweight...N/A
Ever imagine what the cosmic swirl might look like the closer you floated to the sun in your spaceship? A beautiful hue of hot reds, oranges, and galaxy stars swirling together, just like this fiery paperweight. Handformed by Jeff Mentuck of Marbleheadglass, from Salem, this gorgeous paperweight is two-inches in diameter and signed and dated on the bottom.
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Shop: DomusModern also featured in Purple.
Vintage Dynasty Purple Paperweight...N/A
Domus Modern out of the midwestern part of the US presents a pretty deep purple paperweight from the Dynasty Gallery Heirloom Collection. Artistic glass bubbles formed within the paperweight will create a conversation about the universe. Set it upon a white shelf or bookcase to create a striking contrast.
Shop: Rwalsh111
Murano Flower Paperweight...$18.00
The Italian term for “thousands of flowers” is millefiori which is also a technique created by art glass makers in Murano, Italy in 1845. The glass makers twisted tubes of colorful glass into floral designs like the amazing and detailed pink flower in the paperweight presented above by Rwalsh111 out of Clearwater. If you look closely, you can see the clear bubble in the middle of the flower.
Shop: Auberrygirl
Fruity Swirl Paperweight...$28.00
An artist is like a scientist as the artist Auberry of California demonstrates in her experimentation with dish soap, milk, and food coloring. A photo of a ”New Earth” in its’ infancy. One day her technique will make history. Paperweight comes in a burlap pouch ready to give to your beloved or…keep for yourself.
Shop: Sterlingglassworks
Large Heart Paperweight...N/A
According to Sterlingglassworks’s Etsy profile, he is a “water sign with a love for”…get this…fire! He doesn’t understand it himself, either. Nevertheless, he creates works of beauty from fire. The Heart of the Universe swirls you into a hypnotic trance. Use this paperweight for meditation.
And, just like that, I have discovered the 8th way to use a paperweight.
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Resources: 1. The History of Paperweights , 2. Illinois State Museum, 3. The History of Paperweights, 4. Wikipedia
Filed under: Etsy Tagged: | bookends, centerpieces, collective grouping, doorstops, garden globes, meditation, millefiori, Murano Italy, paperweights, song notes flowing
Hmmm…I can see myself falling into meditation vs. working while staring at a big stack of papers on my desk.
(I like the Murano flower one, too.)
Yea I was about to do the same when I hit the heart paperweight. The Murano flower is pretty, too. I thought it was a real flower until I read through the histories.
You made paperweights interesting!
Thank you! I have achieved my objective.
What you post here is very interesting..
Thank you very much and for stopping by!
Wow!! I want the Murano Flower paperweight
K
Pretty isn’t it?