Paperweights: The Collector's Guide to Identifying, Selecting, and Enjoying New and Vintage Paperweights

A guide to collecting paperweights discusses the history of the craft and various types of paperweights, and includes advice on care and display

The fascination with glass-art-within-glass, as collector Reilly points out, is a relatively recent phenomenon--at least compared with other antiques. From its beginning in Poland in the 1830s, the craft of millefiori paperweights spread and took on colorful variations in such well-known French factories as Baccarat, Clichy, and St. Louis. Reilly prepares novices for their first collecting foray, explaining types as well as care and display. Color photographs bolster the text that sometimes drags. Those first venturing into this antique wonderland, compelled to do so by the publicity given to such collectors as the late Arthur Rubloff and such collections as that of the Corning Museum of Glass, will find it an interesting though expensive hobby. Barbara Jacobs

Collectors new to the field of paperweights will find a wealth of information in this title on identifying 19th- and 20th-century paperweights. In discussing the various types, the author guides readers through paperweight styles, clearly defining terms like upset muslin, piedouche, lampwork, and marbries. He goes on to point out the striking differences between inexpensive "gift" paperweights-most of which come from China or Venice-and the finer, more costly, usually one-of-a-kind paperweights. Also included are some history of paperweights, a glossary, a list of manufacturers and paperweight societies, and advice on their presentation and preservation. Although there are plenty of other books on this popular subject, this one stands out because of its clarity, good color photographs, and affordable price. Recommended for specialized art libraries and all public libraries.
Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.