Paperweights, used to hold down papers, and most commonly made in glass, evolved in Venice in the early nineteenth century, and spread to France via Bohemia about 1845, where the finest examples were produced by three factories: Baccarat, Clichy and St Louis. Examples from these manufacturers are mostly unmarked and widely faked and imitated and thus a minefield for the uninitiated. The most popular motif is millefiori ('thousand flowers'), though fruit, single flowers, insects, and other small objects are often used as well as portraits and view. The cheaper paperweights use air bubbles as decoration. The classic paperweights are round and domed, but lesser weights were also made in the form of pyramids and rectangles. The early period of paperweights is reckoned to have ended in 1870 but some 20th century manufacturers such as Lalique, Kosta Boda, Whitefriars and Caithness Glass have produced some fine examples. The great majority of more...

63 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Three Victorian clear glass dump paperweights, glass, 19th…

Victorian Clear Glass Dump Paperweights Collection from John Lawford Estate

Three Victorian clear glass dump paperweights, glass, 19th century. Height 10 cm. Height 11.5 cm. Height 13 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Two Victorian green glass dump paperweights, glass, 19th…

Victorian Green Glass Dump Paperweights, 19th Century - Lawford Estate

Two Victorian green glass dump paperweights, glass, 19th century. Height 12 cm & height 14 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Victorian bottle green glass 'Bubble' dump, with Bristol green…

Bristol Green Tumbler with Victorian Bubble Dump - 12cm

Victorian bottle green glass 'Bubble' dump, with Bristol green tumbler, 12 cm diameter

Two similar Victorian glass dump paperweights with floral…

Victorian Glass Paperweights with Floral Inclusions

Two similar Victorian glass dump paperweights with floral Inclusions, 19th century, each with six flower heads rising from a pot, the tallest, 11.5 cm high

Two similar Victorian glass dump paperweights with floral foil…

Victorian Glass Floral Paperweights

Two similar Victorian glass dump paperweights with floral foil Inclusions, 19th century, each with a large flower head above six smaller flowers rising from a pot, the tallest, 10.5 cm high

Three English glass dump paperweights, early 19th century, each…

English Glass Flower Paperweights with Tears and Yellow Inclusion

Three English glass dump paperweights, early 19th century, each with flower unclusions and tears, one with a yellow tear, tallest 10.5 cm

An English glass dump Nailsea pattern paperweight and one other,…

Nailsea Glass Dump Paperweight with Flower Inclusion

An English glass dump Nailsea pattern paperweight and one other, the nailsea pattern of coloured glass inclusions, the other with a flower inclusion, Nailsea 12 cm high

Three English glass dump paperweights, early 19th century, each…

English Glass Paperweights with Foil Flower Inclusions

Three English glass dump paperweights, early 19th century, each with foil flower inclusions, tallest 15 cm

An English glass dump garniture, early 19th century, with air…

19th Century English Glass Garniture with Air Bubbles

An English glass dump garniture, early 19th century, with air bubble inclusions, tallest 12.5 cm

Three antique English glass dumps with floral inclusions, 19th…

19th Century English Glass Dumps with Floral Inclusions

Three antique English glass dumps with floral inclusions, 19th century, 12 cm, 9 cm and 8.5 cm high

Three Victorian glass dump paperweights, late 19th century,…

Victorian Glass Dump Paperweights Set

Three Victorian glass dump paperweights, late 19th century, each of ovoid form, with air bubble inclusions, 18 cm, 16 cm & 12 cm high respectively

Four Victorian glass dump paperweights, late 19th century,…

Victorian Glass Daisy Paperweights Pair

Four Victorian glass dump paperweights, late 19th century, comprising two single paperweights and a pair. Each featuring variously sized foil daisies emerging from a pot, the pair 14 cm high

A Victorian green glass 'dump' paperweight, internally with…

Victorian Green Glass Paperweight with Bubbles

A Victorian green glass 'dump' paperweight, internally with multiple bubbles, snap-off pontil evident to base. Height 15 cm.

Two antique English glass dumps, 19th century, 10 cm and 9.5 cm…

Pair of 19th Century English Glass Dumps

Two antique English glass dumps, 19th century, 10 cm and 9.5 cm high

An antique English glass dump paperweight with silver floral…

English Glass Dump Paperweight with Silver Inclusions

An antique English glass dump paperweight with silver floral inclusions, 19th century, 6.5 cm high

An antique English glass dump paperweight with silver floral…

Antique Glass Paperweight with Silver Inclusions

An antique English glass dump paperweight with silver floral cluster inclusions, 19th century, 8 cm high

A large antique English glass dump doorstop with silver floral…

Antique English Glass Doorstop with Silver Inclusions

A large antique English glass dump doorstop with silver floral inclusions, 19th century, 14 cm high

An antique English glass dump with silver floral inclusions,…

English Silver Inlaid Glass Dump, 19th Century

An antique English glass dump with silver floral inclusions, 19th century, 11 cm high

A rare antique English glass dump with silver floral cluster…

Antique English Glass Dump with Silver Inclusions

A rare antique English glass dump with silver floral cluster inclusions, 19th century, 13 cm high

Two English bubble dumps, early 19th century, of ovoid form,…

19th Century English Ovoid Bubble Dump Pair

Two English bubble dumps, early 19th century, of ovoid form, each with air bubble inclusions, tallest 14 cm high

Two rare English flower dumps, early 19th century, one of…

Rare English Flower Dumps, Early 19th Century

Two rare English flower dumps, early 19th century, one of globular form with flour blue pigment petals around a central air bubble set within a large pot, the other with alternating foil and blue pigmented petals around a central air bubble, above six…

Two rare English dumps with Sulphide Inclusions, early 19th…

Rare English Dumps with Sulphide Inclusions, 19th Century

Two rare English dumps with Sulphide Inclusions, early 19th century, both of ovoid form, one featuring a figure seated on an elephant, the other of Queen Alexandra, tallest 11 cm high

Two English flower dumps, early 19th century, of ovoid form,…

English Flower Dumps with Inclusions and Pot Design

Two English flower dumps, early 19th century, of ovoid form, one with four flowers and air bubble inclusions, the other with a large flower and air bubble above smaller flowers and a pot, tallest 15 cm high

A rare English antique coloured glass paperweight dump, 19th…

Antique Coloured Glass Paperweight Dump, 19th Century

A rare English antique coloured glass paperweight dump, 19th century, 9 cm high, 7 cm wide

An unusual antique English glass dump doorstop with silver foil…

Antique English Glass Doorstop with Silver Inclusions

An unusual antique English glass dump doorstop with silver foil floral inclusions, 19th century, 13 cm high

Australia: a 1756 holey dollar and dump replica, 8R, 1952-1977.

1756 Holey Dollar and Dump Replica, 8R (1952-1977) in Australia

Australia: a 1756 holey dollar and dump replica, 8R, 1952-1977.

A Victorian green glass 'dump' paperweight, included with…

Victorian Green Glass Paperweight with Bubbles

A Victorian green glass 'dump' paperweight, included with bubbles, snap-off pontil evident to base, height 7.5 cm.

Castleford clear glass dump doorstop, England, circa 1880.…

Castleford Glass Dump Doorstop, England 1880

Castleford clear glass dump doorstop, England, circa 1880. Height 15 cm

Victorian Nailsea dump paperweight, England, circa 1880. Height…

Victorian Nailsea Dump Paperweight, England (1880)

Victorian Nailsea dump paperweight, England, circa 1880. Height 14 cm

Three Victorian glass dump paperweights circa 1880 two having…

Victorian Glass Dump Paperweights with Bubble and Flower Designs

Three Victorian glass dump paperweights circa 1880 two having bubble inclusions, the third with a stacked flower design. Tallest 15 cm high

A pair of Victorian floral glass dumps circa 1880, each…

Victorian Foil Daisy Glass Dumps (Pair)

A pair of Victorian floral glass dumps circa 1880, each featuring one large foil daisy with a lower tier of foil daisies emerging from a pot tallest 10.5 cm

Two green glass dump flower paperweights, English, circa 1890…

Green Glass Flower Paperweights, English 1890

Two green glass dump flower paperweights, English, circa 1890 the largest 10 cm high

Late Victorian large Bristol blue dump as Doorstop, (a/f)

Bristol Blue Dump Doorstop (a/f)

Late Victorian large Bristol blue dump as Doorstop, (a/f)

Three c.19th century green glass dump paperweight, control…

Green Glass Dump Paperweights with Flower Control Bubble

Three c.19th century green glass dump paperweight, control bubble flowers in pot [3], height 10-8 cm

A 19th century green glass dump paperweight, blue flowers in…

Green Glass Paperweight with Blue Flowers

A 19th century green glass dump paperweight, blue flowers in pot, height 11 cm

Two 19th century green glass dump paperweights, foil flowers in…

19th Century Green Glass Dump Paperweights with Foil Flowers

Two 19th century green glass dump paperweights, foil flowers in pot [2], height 11.5-8.5 cm

A 19th century green glass dump paperweight, foil flowers in…

Green Glass Dump Paperweight with Foil Flowers

A 19th century green glass dump paperweight, foil flowers in pot & one other [2], height 13-7.5 cm

Large Victorian green glass dump paperweight, C1860,…

Victorian Green Glass Paperweight with Flower Pot Design

Large Victorian green glass dump paperweight, C1860, Stourbridge flower pot and bubbles, height 14 cm

Victorian clear glass bubble dump, height 10.5 cm

Victorian Bubble Dump - Clear Glass, 10.5cm Height

Victorian clear glass bubble dump, height 10.5 cm

A Victorian Stourbridge green glass dump, the ovoid form…

Victorian Green Glass Paperweight with Potted Flowers

A Victorian Stourbridge green glass dump, the ovoid form paperweight with potted flowers included, production flaw evident, height 10.5 cm.

A collection of seven glass dump weights, early 19th century,…

Floral Glass Dump Weights Collection, Early 19th Century

A collection of seven glass dump weights, early 19th century, of various sizes, all with internal floral motifs., 14.5 cm high

A gold Rupee dump, dated 1800 and a silver 1/8 Mohur, dated…

1800 Gold Rupee and 1885 Silver Mohur Coins

A gold Rupee dump, dated 1800 and a silver 1/8 Mohur, dated 1885.

A Victorian green glass dump, traditional tall rounded form…

Victorian green glass dump with bubbles

A Victorian green glass dump, traditional tall rounded form with included bubbles, snap-off pontil evident to base. Height 12.5 cm

A Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, 12 cm high

Green Nailsea Glass Dump Weights, 19th Century

A Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, 12 cm high

A Green Nailsea glass dump ink well, 19th century

19th Century Green Nailsea Glass Inkwell

A Green Nailsea glass dump ink well, 19th century

A Green Nailsea glass dump weight, 19th century, 17 cm high

Green Glass Dump Weight from 19th Century

A Green Nailsea glass dump weight, 19th century, 17 cm high

Two Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, tallest: 12…

Pair of 19th Century Green Glass Dump Weights

Two Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, tallest: 12 cm high

Four Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, tallest: 8.…

19th Century Nailsea Glass Dump Weights Set of 4

Four Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, tallest: 8.5 cm high

Two Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, tallest: 12…

Pair of 19th Century Green Glass Dump Weights

Two Green Nailsea glass dump weights, 19th century, tallest: 12 cm high

A Green Nailsea glass dump weight, 19th century, 18 cm high

Green Nailsea Glass Dump Weight, 19th Century

A Green Nailsea glass dump weight, 19th century, 18 cm high

A Victorian green glass sulphide paperweight dump, a bubble…

Victorian Green Glass Dog Paperweight

A Victorian green glass sulphide paperweight dump, a bubble domed section above the included dog. Height 12 cm

20th century Italian glass dump with encased fish and weed

Italian Glass Dump: Fish and Weed Encased

20th century Italian glass dump with encased fish and weed

Victorian Bristol blue dump

Victorian Blue Dump in Bristol

Victorian Bristol blue dump

Victorian Stourbridge green glass Dump

Stourbridge Green Glass Dump

Victorian Stourbridge green glass Dump

Antique glass dump weight 12 cm high approx.

Antique Glass Dump Weight - 12cm High

Antique glass dump weight 12 cm high approx.

Antique glass dump weight, 13 cm high approx.

Antique Glass Dump Weight - 13 cm High

Antique glass dump weight, 13 cm high approx.

Antique end of day dump glass paperweight 11 cm high approx

Antique Dump Glass Paperweight - 11cm

Antique end of day dump glass paperweight 11 cm high approx

Antique end of day dump glass paperweight 12 cm high approx

12cm Antique End of Day Glass Paperweight

Antique end of day dump glass paperweight 12 cm high approx

A Victorian green glass dump with central floral motif

Victorian Floral Green Glass Dump

A Victorian green glass dump with central floral motif

Pair early Victorian J Kilner, Wakefield glass Dumps. Internal…

Pair of Victorian Silvered Floral Glass Dumps

Pair early Victorian J Kilner, Wakefield glass Dumps. Internal silvered floral design. Marked to base. Height 8 cm (each)

19th century clear glass Dump paperweight

Clear Glass Dump Paperweight (9 words)

19th century clear glass Dump paperweight

A Victorian heavy dump paperweight, the glass ball with…

Victorian Glass Bubble Paperweight

A Victorian heavy dump paperweight, the glass ball with internal bubbles, notched knob to the top. Diameter 15 cm

Good collection of antique Victorian Scottish dumps…

Victorian Scottish Dumps Paperweights Collection

Good collection of antique Victorian Scottish dumps paperweights (12)