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Paperweights are collected by millionaires, who pay enormous sums for selected French Baccarat, Clichy and St.Louis examples or you can rummage around many a bargain basement for some of the less expensive, but still attractive, chinese and advertising items.
The best known type of paperweights is the domed "Millefiore" variety that was first made by the glassworkers on the island of mMrano, near Venice using techniques adapted from Egyptian glassmakers.
The Murano paperweights originated early in the 19th century and were made until around 1850. Leading exponents of these early types include Bigaglia and Franchini.
The French became interested in the Millefiore paperweights and the three factories started producing superb paperweights that now fetch the highest prices, for a period of fifteen years.they were not at all Millefiore, the French produced dazzling flowers, fruit, mushroom and insects.
England produced good quality paperweights through Bacchus, Whitefriars and others, while at the same time the best ever American paperweights were being made by Mount Washington, New England glass, Gillinder and others .The American paperweights in particular or rather some of them are now the second most expensive after the French.
The history of paperweights does not end there .Green bottle weights were produced by Kilner of Wakefield, Nailsea until the end of the 2nd world war.
So the question remains what paperweights will make a good investment? many modern paperweights will soon rival the high quality the French made from centuries ago. So the newer approach is to buy paperweights with more character and less price.
Remember for all your collecting ideas drop by Rare Antiques Collectibles and Memorabilia.
