Glass

   I love things made of glass, always have.  When I was very young, my grandmothers house was a refuge – she had a lovely little house full of domestic and exotic treasures.  One piece that I particularly adored, caressed and held in my hands just to feel the smooth surface and heavy weight of it… was this…

This paperweight was gift to my great grandfather at Christmas time from a client in NYC – Acker & Jablow, a fabric wholesaler in the garment district in the early 1900’s.  My grandmother kept this on her desk for many years.  The design is what is referred to as Millefiore –     “The term millefiori is a combination of the Italian words «mille» (thousand) and «fiori» (flowers). A. Pellatt (in his book «Curiosities of Glass Making») was the first to use the term «millefiori», which appeared in the Oxford Dictionary in 1849.   While the use of this technique long precedes the term millefiori, it is now frequently associated with Venetian glassware.”   
This is what millefiore canes look like before they are used to create art –

Some History on paperweights –

Nineteenth century revival of the glass industry -In early nineteenth-century Europe, a new creative potential developed in the decorative arts. An increasingly urban population and an expanding market of goods created by the Industrial Revolution stimulated the manufacture of many new decorative novelties. In the mid-1840s, glass paperweights appeared. They were a wholly modern, functional glass form that drew upon the ancient glassmaking techniques of millefiori and lampwork and the late-eighteenth century technique of cameo incrustation.  

The sudden emergence and popularity of paperweights can be attributed not only to their decorative appeal but also to a growing Victorian leisure-time interest in letter writing. This fashionable upper and middle class pastime assured their profitable manufacture along with many other glass accessories related to letter writing, all of which were purchased inexpensively at stationery and novelty shops.

My collection over the years has grown, most pieces kept in a small curio cabinet in the keeping room.  This is a jellyfish by Richard Satava – the photo doesn’t do it justice – very luminescent in the right lighting, as are jellyfish in nature.

 One of my favorite artists is Peter Raos…
His reef life paperweights are so vibrant…

 This one by Daniel Salazar..

Some of my “sea” collection…
Some reds…

 Other glass – bottle stoppers my mother found on Cedar Grove Beach in SI
– Marbles, a glass heart – don’t break it!

My seaglass from all over –
..and mercury glass. 
*love* 

 

15 thoughts on “Glass”

  1. Your glass collection is impressive… I particularly love the ocean life paperweights! That jellyfish! and the reefs! How beautiful…

    …and of course your grandmother's paperweight…love it!

  2. Followed you over from 29 Black Street – a fellow glass collector 🙂 My collection is mostly old glasses (wine, shot, brandy) or decanters (obviously, we enjoy our wine, too) and I have way too many jars of beach (sea) glass (being a Prairie girl transplanted to Nova Scotia – I pick up almost everything I see on the beach). So that makes me love your reef paperweights. I've seen them in the store and the texture, weight, designs always enthrall me. Your collection is beautiful.

    Cheers!!

  3. I LOVE GLASS too…love to hold, it touch it, look at it, covet it. There's something calming and magical about glass for me.
    I especially like your sea collection, makes me want to just jump right in.
    Thank you for the history on paper weights, I did not know much about them until now.
    By the way, how do you feel about stones? I love them too. I was on the beach on MV with my granddaughter and found one shaped like a heart.. seemed appropriate 🙂

  5. Karen-What a beautiful collection. I have seen lots of paperweights but yours are especially beautiful…and that jellyfish? WOW! Thanks for sharing them here- xxoo Diana

  8. I absolutely love them!!! What a gorgeous glass collection!! You'd love the one I have on my desk…I am sure of it…I'll have to send you a pic…guess what…it's partly purple!!

  10. Karen, those pieces are fantastic! We have been to Venice several times and finally made it out to the island of Murano where they make the Venetian glass. It was amazing to watch them do it and I had never seen the colored rods until then. Absolutely brilliant! You have a treasure trove there!

  11. That was a learning experience. Very neat. I like glass also, so imagine my pleasure upon hearing my daughter was changing her major to "Glass".. I have all kinds of little hand made treasures, as well as a very useful bear mug.
    Love the reef life one.

  13. Glass is one of my favourite things. I have a collection too, but your collection puts mine to shame! Your pieces are gorgeous!!

  15. Such pretty treasures you have and love the story behind them! Are you a Chihuly fan? I grew in admiration for the beauty of glass after having seen some of his pieces.

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