PW2917. Saint Louis 1994 “Eclosion” Limited Edition Extra Magnum Pedestal Museum Piece. Take a good look. It’s amazing – one of the finest Saint Louis weights ever. I’ve had the pleasure to handle a few of these over the years and this is as nice as any. They are all a bit different as each s handmade, tiny piece by tiny piece. The optics are exceptional. Signature cane in with the flowers “SL 1994” and engraved 105/150. Condition is perfect. 4 inch diameter; 4 1/16 inches tall; three pounds and nine ounces. $2000
Above is an illustration of the Montgolfier balloon. It is not part of the sale.
PW3111. HUGE Magnum Saint Louis Museum Piece Limited Edition 1983. Montgolfier Balloon pedestal weight. Saint Louis made this to commemorate the 1783 launching of the first hot air balloon. The certificate states: “Saint Louis celebrates the bicentenary of the ascent by presenting a balloon in crystal whose design and decoration re-evoke the balloon of 1783.” The color is amazing with a beautiful deep double overlay blue (over white) and a lot of gilded gold. It is signed along the base “Saint Louis 1983 265/350. It is in perfect condition. No box or certificate. The form of this pedestal weight is designed after the design of the balloon and the lower part represents the basket in which the passengers would ride. There cannot possibly exist an example in better condition than this one. 3 3/8 inch diameter; 4 3/4 inches tall; one pound and twelve ounces.
The Montgolfier Brothers Hot Air balloon was the first hot air balloon to launch with passengers (a sheep, a duck, and a rooster) and stayed aloft for ten minutes. Being the first such successful balloon launch, as well as the first human flight in a subsequent launch, was a source of much pride to the French, similar no doubt to the great pride brought to America by the Wright Brothers’ winged flight more than a century later.
From Space.com: “In 1783, two brothers demonstrated their invention, the hot air balloon, before a crowd of dignitaries in Annonay, France.
Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier, prosperous paper manufacturers (a high-tech industry at the time), experimented with lighter-than-air devices after observing that heated air directed into a paper or fabric bag made the bag rise. After several successful tests, the brothers decided to publicly demonstrate their invention.
The Montgolfiers built a balloon made of silk and lined with paper that was 33 feet (10 meters) in diameter and launched it — with nobody aboard — from the marketplace in Annonay on June 4, 1783, the balloon rose to between 5,200 and 6,600 feet (1,600 to 2,000 m) and stayed aloft for 10 minutes, traveling more than a mile (about 2 kilometers).” $750
PW2205. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1986 Museum Piece. “Small Bellflowers on Turquoise Ground” is how it is labeled in the book but the certificate reads “Red and White lilies of the valley on turquoise ground.” Limited edition of 250 pieces. Signature cane “SL1986’ in the base. Condition is Excellent. Perfect condition with box and certificate also in pretty decent condition although slightly musty since it is from a French collection in Normandy. The pieces from this collection are amazing – all perfect – like taking a time machine back to the factory store. This piece came together well, in my opinion with the design, colors, and faceting working in symphony. 3 1/8 inch diameter; 1 15/16 inches tall; one pound and three ounces. $600
PW1757. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1987 Museum Piece. The book, The Art of the Paperweight: Saint Louis, calls this “Yellow and White Flower.” It was produced in a limited edition of 250 pieces. It appears to be designed after the Baccarat primrose weights from circa 1850. It is a beautiful paperweight. Signature cane “SL1987” on the underside of the flower. Condition is perfect. 3 inch diameter; 2 1/8 inches tall; one pound and four ounces. $400
PW1117. Saint Louis Museum Piece Multicolored Swirl. One of the finest swirl weights of all time. Five colors. Closeup image shows a slight anomaly from the making. Signature/date cane: “SL1971”. Condition is perfect. 3 1/8 inch diameter; 2 3/16 inches tall; one pound and six ounces. $400 SOLD
PW2129. Saint Louis Museum Piece Limited Edition 1971. “Blue and White Swirl” is the official name. Pleasing symmetry. The blue bands are translucent which makes the color shift when lighted from different angles. Signature cane in the crown “SL1971”. 3 1/8 inch diameter; 2 7/16 inches tall; one pound and eight ounces. Condition is perfect. $400
PW1394. Saint Louis /Hermes Museum Piece 2010 Magnum Limited Edition of 75. An amazing example of modern glass art in the form of a large paperweight from one of the finest glass houses of all time – Cristalleries de Saint-Louis, France. The history of producing fine crystal paperweights at Saint Louis dates to the 1840s. This limited edition weight is called “Leo le Tigre” and is a jungle scene with a tiger in the midst of thick jungle foliage with overhanging flowers and fruits. The jungle motif is enhanced by hand engraving all around. The scene is viewed through a tilted concave facet, giving it a rich and layered depth. The glass looking into the concave is not colored green but the rest has a green flashing. When looking in the window at le tigre the jungle appears to glow green– very cool! The lampwork comprises four layers and is quite intricate. This is a masterful work of glass art and only 75 were made, less than one for each country on earth. Signature cane “SL2010” and engraved “47/75” on the base to indicate this is the 45th of the edition of 75. This large, heavy weight has a diameter of 3 11/16 inches; height of 3 9/16; and weighs two pounds and twelve ounces. It comes with a presentation box and certificate. I got it directly form the factory in 2010 when I was still a Saint Louis dealer. Condition is new/perfect. $2000
PW1244. Saint Louis Limited Edition (1976) Museum Piece. Two pink Clichy-type roses on sodden snow ground. This is one of an edition of 400 pieces out of seven limited edition weights produced by Saint Louis in 1976. It is one of the most elegant modern Saint Louis weights. Condition is perfect. Concave faceted on top and six to the sides. There is a signature cane in the base: “SL1976.” 3 1/8 inches diameter; 2 inches tall; one pound and three ounces. $350
PW1265. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1982 Museum Piece. “Four Strawberries on Lace.” Limited edition. Saint Louis made a fabulous addition to the strawberry paperweights available to collectors with this one. One of these resides in the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum. Signature cane “SL1982” in the base. Condition is perfect. 3 1/8 inch diameter; 2 1/16 inches tall; one pound, four ounces. $375
PW2007. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1971 Museum Piece. “Three Flowers on White Ground” limited edition of 400 pieces. Saint Louis produced 5 limited edition weights in 1971. The white ground nicely sets off the three vibrant, masterfully made, lampworked flowers. Signature cane “SL1971” in a ring of green tubes in the center of a flower. Condition is perfect. 3 3/16 inch diameter; 1 7/8 inches tall; one pound, three ounces. $350
PW2054. Saint Louis Magnum Museum Piece Limited Edition 1978. “Dark Pink Rose on Mauve ground”. The glass artisans at Saint Louis were some of the finest lampworkers in history, and this rose is an impeccable example. A top example of the craft with 6 and 1 faceting. Excellent is amazingly perfect. Signature cane in the base “SL1978”. 3 1/4 inch diameter; 2 1/8 inches tall; one pound and eight ounces. $400
PW2185. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1975 Magnum Museum Piece. “Double Overlay Bouquet” – Signature cane “SL1975”. Condition is Perfect/Pristine/Like New. 3 1/16 inch diameter; 2 1/4 inches tall; one pound, six ounces. $350
PW115. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1975 Museum Piece. “Hawaiian Millefiori” limited edition of 450 pieces. Saint Louis produced 4 limited edition weights in 1975. The Dictionary of American Paperweights calls this weight “one of the most striking and popular weights made by Saint Louis during the twentieth century”. Signature cane “SL1975” in a ring of red stars. Condition is perfect with minimal shelf wear. 3 inch diameter; 2 1/8 inches tall; one pound and four ounces. $450
PW2218. Saint Louis Limited Edition 1979 Museum Piece. “Pears, Cherries, and Plums.” Limited edition of 450 pieces. This is a continuation of Saint Louis’s long history of making fruit weights, and it’s a masterpiece – a fabulous array of pears, cherries, and plums on a double filigree ground. Six and one faceting. Signature cane “SL1979” in the base. Condition is like new with box and certificate. It was I Mr. Nanta’s collection. 3 1/16 inch diameter; 2 inches tall; one pound and two ounces. $475