OSCAR WILDE collected them and Truman Capote adored their jewel-like mystery. Since the 1851 Great Exhibition in London showcased the charm and beauty of the French paperweights, glass weights have inspired generations of makers of these treasured fancies. The three great names in antique weights are Clichy, Baccarat and St. Louis, all of France, and producing in the golden years 1845-1860. These gems of the glass makers’ art are known for their tiny candy canes of millefiori in tightly packed blossoms, ribbons, ‘stardust’ grounds and intricate lampwork inclusions. Even slightly damaged examples of these tiny formal gardens are expensive investments known the world over, with prices starting in the area of €500 for a piece with a few indents or rubs to the base.
