I remember being fascinated as a child by Arthur Rubloff's paperweight collection at the Chicago Art Institute. It was one of the first exhibits you saw after entering the building on Michigan Avenue. The brightly colored objects and designs captured the child's attention. Though based on the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, Geraldine Casper's book, Glass Paperweights, should not be confused as an exhibition catalog. It is a good, sound introduction to the world of glass paperweights.
The book starts by examining the classical period. The predecessors to glass paperweights are discussed as well as the houses of Baccarat, Clichy, Saint-Louis. American producers are discussed as well.
The subsequent chapters examine paperweight styles and motifs. Swirls, Crowns, Marbries and Silhouettes are displayed in the chapter Thousand Flowers. Nature Magnified looks at fauna, silkworms, Pantin lizard, flora , and others. Uncommon items, such as mushrooms and pedestals, specialties and oddities, overlays and other related objects are covered in the fourth chapter. Cameos and Pinchbecks are discussed in the fifth.
The weights shown are world class. In addition to the major French houses, examples from Paul Joseph Stankard, Charles Kaziun, Francis Dyer Whittemore, Paul Ysart and Rick Ayotte are shown. The photography is excellent.
Price: $8.50
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