The most sought-after antique paperweights are those made by famous French factories such as Baccarat, Clichy and St Louis during the middle years of the 19th century. Patterns were built up from tiny slices of differently coloured rods or canes of glass, set in a mould and covered in clear glass. The size can vary from under 5cm/2in to 10cm/4in or more.

Antique Collection

BACCARAT

YOU CAN OFTEN IDENTIFY THE MAKER OF A PAPERWEIGHT BY THE TYPE OF

RODS IT CONTAINS AND THE WAY THEY ARE ARRANGED. THIS ONE INCLUDES SILHOUETTES OF A DOG, A HORSE AND A DEER, WHICH ARE TYPICAL OF THE BACCARAT FACTORY. £6,500-7,000

Beware

Reproductions of antique paperweights abound, but can be identified by their lighter weight.

Identifying Marks

Baccarat paper‑weights often include signed and dated canes – this one is marked B 1848. St Louis and Clichy paperweights are also sometimes marked with initials.

paperweight

Millefiori

Millefiori (”thousand flower”) paperweights arc so- called because their canes resemble a carpet of flowers.

St Louis

Large single flower heads were much used by the St Louis factory. Sometimes flowers were laid on a criss-cross lattice, known as latticinio. £500-600.

Clichy

Clichy weights can often be identified by the characteristic rose they contain. This one would be worth over £2,000 but more common types fetch from £400.

Overlay Weights

Some rare weights, such as this one made by Baccarat, contain a layer of opaque glass through which windows are cut to reveal the design beneath. This one would be worth £3,000 or more.

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Paperweight