European Paperweights
to
210
895
79
31
11
106
778
110
106
301
252
11
16
33
12
4
42
55
119
40
7
406
77
68
22
21
12
8
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
492
347
257
230
207
506
446
1,005
454
226
216
187
Height
to
Width
to
1,005
977
995
38
23
21
17
17
Place of Origin: European
Mid Century Glass Golf Ball Paperweight by Orrefors Sweden 1960s
By Orrefors
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
A mid-century glass golf ball paperweight made by Orrefors, circa the 1960s. The Orrefors Sweden sticker is attached to the base.
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Glass
Frosted Crystal Owl Sculpture Paperweight by Lalique of France
By Lalique
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful, frosted crystal owl sculpture paperweight by Lalique of France, circa 1990s. This gorgeous piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 2...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
FORNASETTI Glass Paperweight
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage glass sphere paperweight by Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1990s
Original label underside
Diameter: 3 inches / Height: 1.5 inches
1 available in stock in Italy
Order refere...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass
Art Deco Paperweight by Paul Kiss
By Paul Kiss
Located in NANTES, FR
Art Deco paperweight circa 1925.
Wrought iron squirrel stamped P. Kiss.
In perfect condition.
Height: 16.5 cm
Width: 8 cm
Length: 12.5 cm
Weight: 1.8 kg
Paul Kiss, born on March 5,...
Category
1920s Art Deco Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Wrought Iron
1950s Fornasetti Paperweight in Porcelain by Piero Fornasetti
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1950s Astonishing rare porcelain paperweight designed by Piero Fornasetti with butterflies. Handmade.Made in Italy. Heavy ceramic construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. ...
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Ceramic
$576 Sale Price
20% Off
A Pair of Ketland and Co. Flintlock Pistols
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of 18th century English flintlock pistols by Ketland and Co. having proof-marked brass barrels, walnut stocks and engraved steel locks, both with original ramrods and both in ...
Category
18th Century George III Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Walnut
$3,900 / set
Seguso Murano Teal White Opal Albastro Italian Art Glass Baby Elephant Sculpture
By Archimede Seguso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown opalescent teal blue-green and white opalescent Italian art glass baby elephant sculpture / figurine. It is documented to designer Archimede Segus...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
TRAVERTINE SPHERE, Sahi Natural Stone Ball, Book Shelf and Coffee Table Decor
Located in St Petersburg, US
SAHI by Haand: 10 cm (4") travertine sphere, crafted with exceptional hand quality. This elegant decorative object seamlessly blends natural beauty with versatility, making it an ide...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Minimalist European Paperweights
Materials
Travertine, Marble
Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass Statue, paper weight or sculpture. Showing a giant octopus. Colors are a blue, white, black and clear. A beautiful nice addition to your...
Category
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
Very Rare Antique Baccarat Glass Paperweight with complex Millefiori
By Baccarat
Located in Knivsta, SE
Very Rare and Elegant Antique Baccarat Glass Paperweight with complex Millefiori, made in France probably during the 1870s. (Not signed)
Beauti...
Category
1870s Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Glass
Italian Murano Art Glass Sphere Paperweight
By Fratelli Toso
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage Italian Murano hand blown art glass paperweight, Midcentury Modern period, circa mid-20th century, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Georgous Big Dolphin and Fish Sea Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Arte Nuova Murano
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing some blue dolphins and fishes with a Coral Reef inside, floating on controlle...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
Glass Millefiori Vasart Brothers Paperweight Hand Blown, Scotland Ca 1950s
By Vasart
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful handblown Glass Millefiori Paperweight by Vasart, Scotland, Circa 1950s.
This paperweight is handmade with a Millefiori, ten spoke radial cane design.
having Latticino Spokes. The predominant colours are red, green, blue and white colour combination gives excellent contrast producing a very distinctive weight.
The pontil mark to the base has been ground down giving a somewhat matt finish to the ventral section.
There are no makers markings on the base that we can see.
VASART HISTORY
Pre 1946, Salvador Ysart and his 3 sons were working for Moncrieff Glass, then In September 1946, Salvador Ysart and two of his sons (Vincent & Augustine) established Ysart Brothers Glass (trading as "Vasart", formed from the names 'Vincent', 'Augustine' and 'Salvador'. At that time Paul Ysart remained working for Moncrieff.
Vasart made various glass art forms at the Shore Glassworks in Scotland, which included some paperweights including Minis.
In 1960 George Dunlop (MD of Pirelli Glass...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass
Silver Plate Victorian Repoussé Magnifying Glass
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Silver Plated magnifying glass with ornate handle of Repousse Silver.
A Wonderful addition to any sophisticated desk, used to magnify or as a paperweight.
A compleme...
Category
Early 20th Century Victorian European Paperweights
Materials
Silver Plate
Paperweight in bronze from the late 18th Century in the shape of a cannon barrel
Located in Knivsta, SE
Paperweight in bronze from the late 18th Century in the shape of a cannon barrel.
Beautiful patina.
Wear consistent with age and use
Category
Late 18th Century Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Bronze
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' polished brass paperweight.
Designed in the 1950s, this beautifully refined Viennese paperweight is hand-fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Brass
Baccarat Paperweight with Millefiori and Horse Gridel Silhouette, 1973
By Baccarat
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Baccarat paperweight features complex patterned millefiori set around a large horse silhouette cane, with smaller animal silhouette canes placed on a white lace background.
...
Category
1970s Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
Murano Mandala Millefiori Flower Mosaic Red Swirl Italian Art Glass Paperweight
By Fornasa De Murano A L'Insegna Del Moreto, Galliano Ferro
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown, optic design, millefiori flower mosaic "Mandala" design Italian art glass paperweight. Created in the manner of the Fornasa De Murano A L'Insegna...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine
Virgo, Astrological, Murano Glass Paperweight by Ferro and Lazzarini 1980, Italy
By Ferro & Lazzarini 1
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Murano Glass 'Virgo' astrological paperweight by Ferro and Lazzarini
Crafted in the 1980s in Italy, the large glass paperweight was part of a l...
Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Gold
$274 Sale Price
20% Off
A.Ve.M. Murano Satin Surface Millefiori Flowers Italian Art Glass Paperweight
By Arte Vetraria Muranese (AVEM)
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Last one available!
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown, satin surface and applied flower murrines Italian art glass paperweights. Documented to the A.Ve.M. (Arte Vetraria Muranese)...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Cenedese Artistic Handmade Egg "Aquarium" Murano Glass Sculpture, Italy 1960s
By Alfredo Barbini, Cenedese
Located in Roma, IT
Impressive large hand blown egg-shaped Aquarium sculpture in Murano glass. This unique piece was designed by Barbini for Cenedese in Murano, Italy in the 1960s.
This fantastic Mur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
CHANEL Snow Globe
By Chanel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
CHANEL winder holiday snow globe featuring Chanel gift bags, boxes, and N.5 perfume bottle / Made in France
This comes in original box
Diameter: 4 inches / Height: 5.5 inches
1 avail...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Paperweights
Materials
Glass
$525 Sale Price
30% Off
Fratelli Toso Murano Blue Millefiori Flower Italian Art Glass Paperweights
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Priced per item (3 different designs available).
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown flower designs Italian art glass paperweights. They are documented to the Fratelli Toso company....
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine
French 19th Century Set of Scale Weights Stand Desk Accessory
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
19th Century Set of Brass Scale Weights, France
A charming late 19th Century set of weights in brass, housed in their wooden stand. Weights such as these were used with different sc...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Brass
Baccarat French Crystal Heart Paperweight or Decorative Object
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
From French luxury crystal Maison Baccarat, a beautiful clear transparent puffed heart paperweight or decorative object, circa early 21st century, Fr...
Category
Early 2000s European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Vintage Blue Opal White Italian Art Glass Bird Figure
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso opalescent white and sky blue Italian art glass bird figurine / sculpture. Documented to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company. The cute bird h...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Opaline Glass
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
Toso Murano Green Orange Millefiori Flower Italian Art Glass Paperweights
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Priced per item (3 different designs available).
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown flower design Italian art glass paperweights. They are documented to the Fratelli Toso company. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine
Modernist Lucite Resin Cube Sculpture with Gears Pierre Giraudon, France, 1970s
By Pierre Giraudon
Located in Rome, IT
Lucite resin cube with gears inside attributed to Pierre Giraudon, circa 1970.
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Resin, Lucite
Handmade Small Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Grey Bardiglio Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in grey Bardiglio marble. Measure: Diameter 8 cm
Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and handcra...
Category
2010s European Paperweights
Materials
Marble
1970s Vintage Arnaldo Pomodoro Insp Brass Pop Art Paperweight Italy
By Arnaldo Pomodoro
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Fabulous solid heavy Italian brass paperweight in the style of highly the collectible Italian sculptural artist, Arnaldo Pomodoro
This thick, chncky modernist paperwork is uniquely...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Brass
Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a glass stone. Colors are a red, white, black a...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
Seguso Murano Golden Amber Gold Flecks Bow Italian Art Glass Kitty Cat Figurine
By Archimede Seguso, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso golden amber with yellow and gold flecks Italian art glass kitty cat figurine or sculpture. Documented to designer Archimede Seguso. The ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Gold Leaf
Daum French Glass Floral Paperweight
By Daum
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning French art glass paperweight beautifully presented with a single central flower head by renowned glass makers Daum and dating from the 20th century. The paperweight is han...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Blown Glass
17th Century Iron Lock & Key
Located in Huntington, NY
17th century lock & key. Probably form a large cabinet or a door.
Category
17th Century Louis XIV Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Iron
$880 Sale Price
20% Off
Murano "millefiori" Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Murano Multicolor Art Glass Paperweight
unmarked, maker unknown,
1970's
"Millefiori is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware. The term m...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Art Glass
Fratelli Toso Murano Blue Purple Flowers Glass Italian Art Glass Paperweight
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown royal blue and white mini spots, with purple and white millefiori flower murrines Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$520 Sale Price
20% Off
Beautiful Fish Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium design Italian art glass paper weight. Showing two fish inside, in orange colors. Colors are orange, blue, ...
Category
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
Dice Metal Statue Paper Weight Mid-Century Modern, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Super cool Art Deco design sculptural "High Roller" dice paperweight. Nice dice atop a nickel base. The best addition to your desk or every room.
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Metal
Petite Murano Glass Paperweight Mid-Century Modern, Italy 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop. Found at an estate sale in Verona, Italy.
Category
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Figurine Sculpture
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear, dark pink, and bubbles Italian art glass baby bird figurine. Documented to the Barovier e Toso Company. I have owned several with labels be...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Gold Leaf
Murano Multicolor Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Barcelona, ES
Murano glass faceted paperweight with multicolor murrina and air bubbles, Italy, 1960s.
Spectacular and luxury large Murano handblown colorful Millefiori paperweight...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Tiffany Box and Bow Crystal Paperweight by Tiffany & Co.
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous iconic Tiffany box with bow crystal paperweight by Tiffany & Co. circa 1990's. The box is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3"W x 3"D x 2....
Category
Late 20th Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
Mid-Century Modern Crystal Owl Paperweight by Baccarat of France
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
This elegant paperweight was realized by Baccarat- one of the world's finest makers of crystal products since 1765 in France, circa 1960. Artisanally created in translucent crystal, ...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
Murano Art Glass Multi Color Spiral Paperweight Sculpture, Italy, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful abstract Murano blown glass sculpture. Artist unknown. Italy, 1960s
This art glass paperweight sculpture has an eye-catching design with spiral shape standing on a clear g...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$1,774 Sale Price
20% Off
Barovier Toso Murano Clear Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Figurine Sculpture
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear, gold flecks, and bubbles Italian art glass baby bird figurine. Documented to the Barovier e Toso Company. I have owned several with labels ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Gold Leaf
Murano Gambaro Poggi Orange Purple Italian Art Glass Snail Figurine Paperweight
By Gambaro & Poggi
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown bright orange, yellow and lavender Italian art glass snail figurine / sculpture. The piece is documented to the Gambaro & Poggi company, with an o...
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
$450 Sale Price
25% Off
1970s Piero Fornasetti Astonishing Crystal Paperweight Sphere. Made in Italy
By Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Piero Fornasetti astonishing crystal paperweight sphere in excellent condition. Made in Italy.
Dimension:
diameter 3,14 x 1,57 inches
diameter 8 cm x cm 4 H
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
$624 Sale Price
20% Off
Barovier Toso Murano Yellow Blue Gold Fleck Italian Art Glass Love Bird Figurine
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown bright yellow and sapphire blue spots, bubbles and gold flecks Italian art glass baby bird figurine / sculpture. Documented to the Barovier e Toso...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Gold Leaf
$400 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid 20th Century Wolf Head Letter Holder or Paper Clip in the style of Gucci
By Gucci
Located in Roma, IT
we offer for sale an extremely decorative item, in my opinion to have, more than for its function, for its apotropaic power, as an amulet or a talisman that acts as a warning on the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate, Bronze
19th Century Murano Glass Paperweight - Pen Holder
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique paperweight, handmade from multi colored glass, in the shape of a rooster. On top a small vase, probably intended to hold a pen. ...
Category
1870s Belle Époque Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Blown Glass, Art Glass
Carl Auböck Model #4867 'Egg' Polished Brass Paperweight
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4867 'Egg' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Car...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Brass
Crystal Sailboat Ornament by DAUM France
By Daum
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An intriguing crystal ornament, or paperweight, in the shape of a stylised three-masted sailing boat, made by legendary crystal manufacturer DAUM France. In excellent condition, its ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
Paperweight Corn Sculpture in Green Malachite Italian Marble, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Magnificent paperweight corn sculpture fully made in green Italian malachite. This stylish and unique piece was made in Italy during the 1970s.
In amazing conditions, the Malachite ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Malachite, Marble
Daum France Blown Crystal Art Glass Paperweight Signed Egg Shape Red Blue White
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Daum
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Daum France Blown Art Glass Paperweight Signed Egg Shape in Red and Blue Flower Swirl.
Signed Decorative Egg Shaped Crystal Art Daum France, 1970's.
Vintage Signed Etched Daum...
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Crystal
Fratelli Toso Murano Green White Italian Art Glass Crown Paperweight
By Fratelli Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown green and white twisting ribbons Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. This paperweights are often ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern European Paperweights
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$488 Sale Price
24% Off
Collection Four Jelly Fish Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweights Statue
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful set of four Murano hand blown aquarium design Italian art glass paper weights or statues. Showing Jelly Fish inside, in different colors, floating on controlled bubbles. Co...
Category
1980s Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
$336 Sale Price / set
40% Off
Murano glass aquarium bloc by Alfredo Barbini for Cenedese, 1950s
By Cenedese, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Splendid Murano glass aquarium by Alfredo Barbini for Cenedese.
Production of the 1950s.
Excellent conditions. Intact in all parts.
Category
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage European Paperweights
Materials
Murano Glass
$1,007 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Baccarat Red White and Blue Convex Glass Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
Antique Baccarat faceted art glass paperweight with closepack cane millefiori mushroom at center, surrounded with a blue torsade ribbon.
Paperweigh...
Category
19th Century Empire Revival Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Art Glass
Antique Grand Tour Pietra Dura Specimen Top Paperweight, 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date.
This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlaid with a sumptuous arrangement of semi-precious stones including malachite, agate, onyx and amethyst.
It is beautifully inlaid on a slate base.
Not only is this desk paperweight very functional, but it is also an exquisite mineralogical wonder that can be admired by all discerning collectors.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation,
Dimensions in cm:
Height 2 x Width 17 x Depth 10
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 inch x width 7 inches x depth 4 inches.
Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art.
Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade.
The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian.
But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)"
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...."
Giovanni Montelatici...
Category
1880s Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Marble
Antique Grand Tour Pietra Dura Specimen Paperweight 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date.
This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlai...
Category
1880s Antique European Paperweights
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Marble
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Ferro & Lazzarini On Sale
French 1960s Molded Stainless Steel
Lucite Penny Cube
Nefertiti Desk
Pineapple Paperweight
Ted Arnold High Society
Baccarat Crystal Heart Paperweight
Bacchus Paperweight
Bayer Aspirin
Chris Buzzini Paperweight
Chris Buzzini
Gunnar Cyren On Sale
Hay Hook Vintage
Jellyfish Paperweight
Lizard Paperweight
Mark Peiser On Sale
Paul Stankard Glass
Paul Stankard Paperweight