Bohemian (Czech Republic) paperweight

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 more... 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 paper weights are unmarked, and glass rarely shows its age.

Paperweights are also made in gold, silver, silver plate, hardstone, amber, ceramic, ivory, timber and other materials. less...

Bohemia is a region in the present-day Czech Republic, and has a long history of glassmaking and jewellery making. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Bohemia was a major centre for the manufacture of these products.

Glassmaking in Bohemia dates back to the 13th century. In the 19th century, Bohemian glassmakers developed new techniques for making coloured glass, including millefiori, which is a type of glass that is made with tiny pieces of coloured glass embedded in it. Bohemian glass was also known for its intricate patterns and designs. In the 20th century, Bohemian glassmakers continued to innovate, and more... they developed new techniques for making opalescent glass, which is a type of glass that has a milky or iridescent appearance.

Jewellery making in Bohemia also dates back to the Middle Ages. In the 19th century, Bohemian jewellery makers were known for their use of precious metals, such as gold and silver, and their intricate designs. Bohemian jewellery was also known for its use of semi-precious stones, such as garnets, amethysts, and topazes. In the 20th century, Bohemian jewellery makers continued to use traditional techniques, but they also began to experiment with new materials and designs.

Bohemia's glassmaking and jewellery making industries were important contributors to the economy of the region. They also helped to make Bohemia a center of artistic and cultural activity. Bohemian glass and jewellery were exported all over the world, and they were prized for their quality and craftsmanship.

Some of the most important Bohemian glass and jewellery makers from the 19th and 20th centuries include Moser Glassworks. Jablonec Glassworks, Preciosa, Georg Kramer and Franz Josef Urban. less...