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Vintage Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori Sampler Paperweight Vintage Pairpoint Concentric Millefiori Sampler Paperweight. circa 1970s. This is a wonderful spaced millefiori paperweight with twelve different pieces of glass placed on a two layer turquoise ground. Included are three complex millefiori canes, a Clichy style rose, Clichy style pastry mold cane, a miniature cameo, two twist canes, three large shards, and a bit of something else. The millefiori canes are especially nice. The ground has a translucent layer above an opaque layer, which makes the canes look like they stand proud above the ground but when viewed from the side it is clear that the top of the canes are actually level with the top of the translucent layer. It is faceted with a top facet and five side facets. The facets are concave. I believe this paperweight dates from the early 1970s when William Burchfield was still at Pairpoint. The paperweight is signed on the base with an engraved "P" inside a diamond. This is an interesting addition to any collection of millefiori paperweights. Note: According to glass artist Jim Poore, the glass fragments in this paperweight are from Pairpoint's attempts to replicate Mount Washington Glass Company "Lava" glass from the 1880s. We don't know why they ended up in this paperweight. Maybe it was an experiment to test the compatibility of the glass or a training piece or just a curiosity? I call it a millefiori sampler. Please Note: The stand shown in the pictures is not included with the paperweight. It is shown for illustration only. Note on white glare: Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the light. Pairpoint Glass has a long history extending back to its earliest origins with Mount Washington Glass in 1837. Owners and locations changed a number of times and the name Pairpoint was first used in the 1890s. The original Pairpoint companies were located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1938, it was reorganized as Gunderson Glass Works by owner Robert Gunderson and later renamed the Gunderson - Pairpoint Glass Works in 1952. The name was acquired by Robert Bryden and the company moved briefly to East Wareham, MA in 1957 where it operated as the Pairpoint Glass Company. They leased production facilities in Spain. The last New Bedford factory burned down in 1965. In its latest iteration, Robert Bryden moved Pairpoint to Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1970. It continues to operate at that location today, with new owners in 2015. William Clark Burchfield started making paperweights at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore, Massachusetts in 1970. He left in 1976 to form the Cape Cod Glass Works (also in Sagamore) which continued in operation until 2000. It then continued briefly in Crossville, Tennessee until 2001. Bill Burchfield died in 2012. Bill's son Mark was also at the Cape Cod Glass Works until 1998. Size: 2 9/16" diameter by 1 11/16" high. The base is polished flat with remnants of the pontil scar. Some rough areas on the base. It is faceted with a top facet and five side facets. The facets are concave. Allan's Paperweights is owned by Allan Port. Please check out my other eBay auctions or visit my eBay Store. Free USPS Ground Advantage shipping in the US. Priority mail is also available at extra cost. If you are outside the US, please review the cost of postage. If in doubt, please check with me first. I ship to most countries. If you are blocked from bidding, please contact me and I will add your eBay user name to the allowed bidders list. If you would like a different shipping option, please contact me before paying the invoice. Full value will be declared for customs purposes. Please do not ask me to declare this a gift. The buyer is responsible for any customs fees, VAT fees, or handling charges imposed by your country's customs services. |
