Paperweight

Pair of Lucite Paperweights with Underwater Seascenes, circa 1960′s

July 15, 2013Collectables1950's, 1960's, afterglow retro, aquarium, atomic era, brighton, holiday, kitsch decor, lucite, lucite paperweight, mid century modern, Paperweight, resin, retro, summer, underwater scene, vintage, vintage summerafterglowretro Leave a comment

These are a really Stunning Pair of coloured Lucite (resin) paperweights, circa 1950’s / 1960’s. Country of origin is unknown but very much in the American Mid Century Modern style.

Great pieces with their Atomic-era style abstract forms, displaying underwater Sea scenes complete with shells, fish, plants and Starfish.
All encased in a blue / yellow / green colour resin block with the backs textured like rippled water, which catches the light beautifully and glows amazingly due to the form and colour.

A Striking and unusual pair that could be used as paperweights, bookends, desk ornaments, centrepieces or just to admire on display.

Really reminiscent of the 50’s / 60’s Atomic Mid-Century Modern Era using new materials with exciting new forms! Would be fantastic in a retro, vintage, or even contemporary or minimal interior due to their bold striking form and colour!

In Great Condition, the large one is Excellent. The smaller one has a few light surface scratches, not noticeable on display and doesn’t detract from the overall look and effect. The usual age related wear on the bases.

Measuring: Larger 19 x 12 x 5cm / 7.5 x 4.75 x 2in.
Smaller 15 x 10 x 5.5cm / 6 x 4 x 2.25in.

Aquarium art glass paperweight, Murano, Italy circa 1960’s

June 6, 2013Glass1960's, afterglowretro, alfredo barbini, aquarium, art glass, brighton, cenedese, kitsch, mid century, Murano, Paperweight, retro, riccardo licata, seascene, Venetian Glass, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Stunning Aquarium / Seascene art glass paperweight, made in Murano, Venice, Italy circa 1960’s / 1970’s. Unlabelled possibly by Cenedese.

A Beautiful piece of Venetian art glass, the large clear glass paperweight has a tapered barrel like form, wonderfully smooth and rounded.
Inside is an amazing underwater seascene / aquarium with 6 fish swimming around a coral reef.
Incredibly skilled craftsmanship on display, the blue glass coral is embellished with bright colours, spirals organically and trails off into wispy vortexes.

Very similar to the renowned Cenedese aquariums blocks by Alfredo Barbini and Riccardo Licata.

Would make a Great addition to any collection of Murano / Italian / European Art Glass, and would complement any retro, vintage, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, mid century, kitsch, minimalist or contemporary interior.

In Great Condition, no marks, chips or scratches other than the usual age related wear to the base, not noticeable and doesn’t detract on display.

Measures 11 x 7 x 7cm / 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.75in. Weighing approx 800 grams.

Lucite Paperweight with Thermometer and Underwater Seascene, made in France circa 1950’s

March 31, 2013Collectables50's, aquarium, atomic era, Desk, france, home decor, kitsch, lucite, mid century, modernist, Paperweight, resin, retro, seascene, space age, table, thermometer, underwater, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a truly Stunning clear Lucite (resin) paperweight with thermometer, circa 1950’s / 1960/s. In the Mid Century Modern style, believed to be made in France (thermometre on face).

A Great piece, in the shape of a clamshell, and displaying an underwater Sea scene complete with shells, sea plants and a Starfish. All encased in a beautiful clear resin that catches the light amazingly through the contoured edges, contrasted nicely with the black back.

A Striking and unusual item, catches the light beautifully, perfect for use as a desk accessory / paperweight, or on display on a sideboard, windowsill or mantelpiece.

In Excellent Condition, no marks, chips or scratches, the thermometer is still working too!

Measures 13 x 11 x 4.5cm / 5 x 4.5 x 1.75in.

Kitsch seascene with Starfish, fish and shells, set in an Atomic era abstract shaped Lucite block paperweight, circa 1950′s

August 15, 2012Collectables50's, 60's, atomic, era, fish, jet age, lucite, mid century, Paperweight, resin, retro, scene, sculpture, sea, shells, starfish, underwater, vintageafterglowretro One comment

At the moment I’m really loving pieces such as this that exhibit so many characteristics of Mid-century design. From the use of new types of plastic to create innovative pieces in abstract forms that owes so much to the Atomic-era and the Jet-age, fusing geometric angular shapes with streamlined contours. And the brightly coloured Kitsch underwater scenes, mementos of Inter-Continental foreign travel.