Everything You Need To Know About Glass Paperweights
For those who wonder about the history of paperweights, it is an interesting saga. Looking into the beginnings of the history of paperweights, paperweights came into fashion more 100 years ago and those of glass were especially cherished.
The history of paperweights began in the mid 1800s in Europe. This was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution when the middle class was rising and people began to want colorful and decorative pieces around their homes. Paperweights could stand in for showy art which played a key role in the history of paperweights. In London in 1851, paperweights were showcased in the World Fair where over 6 million people from around the world visited. The French Clichy glass factory exhibited paperweights and these were awarded top honors; this event was a key moment in the history of paperweights.
As the history of paperweights got a strong start, its not surprising that they began to make their way into more homes. Corresponding by letter was fashionable at this time because paper and envelopes had become affordable. This created a growing market for desks and desk accessories. The history of paperweights developed continuously as people started collected desk accessories. Paperweights became very fashionable at this point in history.
While the French glass makers certainly played an important role in the history of paperweights, they weren’t alone. Venetian glass makers were instrumental in the development of the paperweight history, especially with the development of a technique where a clear glass dome was encased in the design to serve as a magnifier. This was a groundbreaking development in the history of paperweights.
As the Victorian era progressed and developed, people started to give sentimental and meaningful gifts to their loved ones. Because paperweights were one of the favorite gifts, this point in time was important to the history of paperweights. From 1855-1860, 50,000 to 100,000 high end paperweights were manufactured. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 of these are still in existence, with about 25% being high end pieces. These can sell for up to five figures in today’s market. It is important for collectors to know a little bit about the history of paperweights for several reasons. First, it will help when trying to determine the value of a piece and second, its fun to have some knowledge of a piece’s background. Paperweights have certainly made their mark in history and anyone that has one of these early pieces is lucky indeed.
Learn more about glass paperweights. Stop by Carl Porter’s site where you can find out all about antique paperweights and what it can do for you.
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