LARGE ENGLISH VICTORIAN GREEN GLASS ‘CERES’ SULPHIDE PAPERWEIGHT / DUMP c 1840

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LARGE ENGLISH VICTORIAN GREEN GLASS ‘CERES’ SULPHIDE PAPERWEIGHT / DUMP c 1840:
$160.28

This early English paperweight is a very special collector’s piece as it contains an intact standing plaster sulphide of Ceres, the goddess of Agriculture who holds a sheaf of corn. It is the second ‘sulphide’ weight that I am listing this week.It is in very good condition for its probably 160 (+) years of life. Weights like this one may be seen on pages 80 and 83 of Robert G Hall’s excellent, important and systematic book “Old English Paperweights” published in 1998 as a volume in the superb series of Schiffer Books for Collectors. Page 83 includes a similar sulphide weight but with a slightly different sulphide figure of Ceres. In his fascinating account of the history of ‘Green Glass Doorstops” Mr Hall explains how these paperweights/dumps were made in the 19th Century in Yorkshire and the Midlands of England by unknown makers.This magnificent weight or dump is 5.5” (14 cms) tall and its diameter around its widest circumference is 11” (about 28cms)). It is heavy, as are all these paperweights. It weighs 1.434K (3lb 2½ozs) before packing.Condition It is in good collectible condition, with a snapped pontil in the base inevitably showing some wear. In this case, the pontil has been taken out at an angle and it has lifted a very shallow long sliver in the base. There is also a small shallow bruise on the base but it in no way detracts from the integrity of the weight. Otherwise, there are two faint scratches on the domed top of the weight. The general condition of the piece is excellent. These weights can be very badly damaged, chipped and cracked, but in this case the condition is remarkable, given its age. It displays well.It is a rare item, a collector’s item and only the fourth one of its kind that I have ever had. Postage I have quoted alternative postal options which should be seen as fairly accurate, being based on the weight of the weight fully packed. I always, as a matter of policy, use a ‘signed for’ and ‘tracked’ postal option and insure for the full value. I aim to keep the postage as low as possible commensurate with the demands of safety and security and I never attempt to make extra profit by overcharging for postage. I always return any postage inadvertently overcharged, as will be clear from my response. I use new first class packaging for which I make no charge.I am happy to accept Paypal and will accept personal cheques, but only in sterling. I am afraid that the clearance of foreign currency cheques in the UK is expensive and time-consuming so I have reluctantly had to exclude their use. So, sorry! it’s sterling cheques only.