Featured More Paperweights + Question about Condition

Hi, Folks-
As promised here are some more paperweights from the collection I'm selling. These are all Paul Stankard weights acquired in the 1970's through the early '90's. Believe they were all bought new. I ran out of space for all the pix. I have a question regarding the condition. There seems to be a line that travels around the midsection of each, from in the making. You can't feel it. My search of other Stankard weights shows a number of others with this line too. Is it a common issue with his weights. Nobody seems to mention it as a condition issue. I can't imagine it was considered a flaw as good money was paid for them, over $2000 for a couple. Can anyone shed any light on this? Thanks.

 

Those are lovely and your pics are fantastic. Ive always thought that line meant it was a fused piece,therefore not worth as much .But I could be very wrong.

 

Beautiful orchid!

 

Those look like annealing fractures to me.

 

Just lovely and what stunning photos.

 

those are some drop dead gorgeous weights, I love them
not damage or a flaw, just part of the process from making the piece. I had some weights with the same line and wasn't sure, I asked on the Glass Message Board about it and one of the paperweight folks there explained it.
This is just an artifact of the manufacturing process. The cane used for the torsade most likely was not made from the same melt of glass as was the dome of the paperweight. This can result in minor differences in the optical qualities / index of refraction of the clear glass used. This is especially true in older work where the batch materials were not as precise in chemical content and the systems for measurement and mixing were similarly less precise. When such a difference exists it is visible in the way seen here, light is refracted as it crosses the line of transition creating a visible "seam" where no gap or air is present.
here is one of the weights I was asking about, at St Louis Upright Bouquet

 

Well explained. And good to know!

P.S. Can see why people fall in love with these incredible paperweights. The glasswork is just gorgeous.

 

Paul built his 'scene' on a work bench. When it was complete he placed it on a very hot puck of optical glass, covered it with another puck. His secret was how he eliminated the air between everything. What you are seeing is the contact between the two pucks. no harm, they all have it, just doesn't show on some.

 

Just to chime in for no reason, those are gorgeous. A few paperweights have collected me over the years, but nothing like that.

 

Always learning on here. Thats why I love this place.

 

Me too.

 

Thanks for all your comments and collective wisdom. I feel much better about having described them as I did. I've learned a lot the past few weeks about paperweights and learned to appreciate their artistry on a whole other level. Here's another one, maybe the best-another Stankard...I ran out of room in the original post.

 

just lovely!
finding one of his weights is on my wish list

 

@Lew Fisher Gorgeous...but then most Stankards are ! Being from NJ..I always had a soft spot for his weights...alas..I only have 1 of his...(1976) His early weights were not as complex as his newer..but that is all I could afford !
His current weights run into the thousands..and are much larger than his older weights and so very detailed . They are truly works of art by a master....

. I am glad you now know the line is not a flaw..almost all of his have it ! I love all yours but esp the lady slipper (single pink).. I would love to add it to my collection...if the price was right . PM me if you want.

 

Just how do you remove the air????
Curious.

 

Paphiopedilum orchid - aka lady slipper

 

Absolutely stunning!