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No office space or desk in a house is complete without a paperweight to hold down unruly stacks of documents. Brass paperweights are uncommon in comparison to their sister paperweights - those made of glass or stone. Glass paperweights are inferior to brass paperweights and their rustic, antiquated feel. Brass and its many benefits far outstrip the benefits of glass paperweights. Brass as a metal is highly resistant to the rust and wear of the salty waters of the ocean, far more than any other metal, and as such has been used in the building of ships or ship tools, which gives it a reputation as a seafaring metal. The antique variety of paperweights were all created by French craftsman between the years of 1840 and 1872. Glass paperweights, with their intricate inner designs, were favored more over brass paperweights, which made the brass variety very rare. Because glass paperweights broke easily on ships due to the rocking of waves, brass paperweights were infinitely more popular with captains and navigators on the ocean. Brass paperweights resisted germs and viruses that breed on a ship and would otherwise cling to a soft surface like glass. While the United States, England, and many other countries attempted to follow in France’s steps and create paperweights to sell, France’s products almost always enjoyed greater longevity and were known for their outstanding quality. To acquire the large amounts of bronze to make brass paperweights, France was required to import the metal from countries like Spain and Portugal, who were in control of much of the metal trade at the time. Artists and their artistic spin on paperweights became very important in the marketing of paperweights, as the growing supply forced companies to offer unique or rare designs. The studios created to bring these artists together often had radically different designs for their variety of paperweights, and often created several ‘lines’ of paperweights, much like fashion lines in the clothing industry. The majority of these studios were situated on the East coast of the United States. Artistically, nothing like the antique brass paperweights of the late 1800’s was created until the late 1960’s, when artists began a revival of paperweight making in the United States. Because of their dual functionality and the modern era’s appreciation for the traits of form and function, brass paperweights are now more popular than they ever were. The Bohemian style of paperweight was also popular in the Victorian era, and this included brass and other metal paperweights. Brass and other metals were combined with glass in the Victorian era to produce paperweights of unique size, shape, and visual appeal. Collectors of paperweights are highly enthusiastic and knowledgeable, with some notable collectors including Oscar Wilde. Collections of paperweights are owned by museums as well, and are often themed or collected according to time periods in which the differences are unique and clear to see. Brass paperweights are the height of paperweight fashion, and while glass paperweights have a more changeable quality, the brass paperweight is solid, full of luster and a soft sense of power one only gets from metal that is burnished. As of a part of a home's tropical decor they make terrific gifts for people of all ages. George is an avid collector and connoisseur of all things nautical - nautical decor, model boats, historical artifacts, etc. He has written articles for several large manufacturers and retailers of model ships, and he is a master ship builder himself. He brings a unique perspective from both the retail and the consumer side of the nautical decorating and model boat building markets.
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