Caithness Paperweights

Caithness and other paperweight Information

China Choice is naturally affected by the difficulties experienced by our Scotish manufacturers of fine glass but for customers who call we do have a few fine and unusual pieces of Caithness in stock and on display.

The first Caithness weights were produced in 1969, and over 1,600 different designs have been made since that time. At the moment the main factory in Crieff, Scotland, has stopped production of the Caithness product known the world over for fine quality and workmanship. Hopefully it is a temporary matter and we will see the designs so familiar appear again for collectors and the wider market.

The artistic designs of Colin Terris have resulted in some dramatic and exciting paperweights. Utilising abstract designs, bright colours, placed bubbles, and creative faceting, the Caithness artists have brought the paperweight art into the twentieth century.

Caithness Paperweights are a good choice, they are of high quality, are increasing in value, are very interesting to examine, and they will add a certain dimension of motion and excitement that many traditional weights do not. Most of the weights have been designed by Colin Terris; but the other designers at Caithness include Alistair Macintosh, Helen MacDonald, Margot Thomson, William Manson, and Philip Chaplain.

Who can say which will become the rarest and most desired if these designers move on to other industries or continue to manufacture from smaller businesses!

William "Willie" Manson is a very creative artisan, having designed and made some very delightful weights over a long period of time. Much of his time is spent as a hot glass artist at the Caithness factory, where he creates many of the high quality lamp work weights that bear the Caithness signature.

Willie also designs and makes fine paperweights at his own studio. He is perhaps noted for incorporating some interesting facets in his pieces, and he produces a number of upright weights. All of his weights have a "WM" signature cane within the design.

Other names are Selkirk and the Perthshire Paperweights. More >>>>

Chines Paperweights. More >>>>

!	Perthshire and SelkirkPaperweights

Stuart Drysdale founded Perthshire Paperweights in 1968. Their paperweights reflect some of the styles and designs found in the Antique French weights. Perthshire produce very high quality weights and are well regarded.

Selkirk Paperweights is another producer of fine Scottish weights. Peter Holmes is the master designer for Selkirk, and they produce both traditional weights and high-tech abstract masterpieces.

The Strathearn factory produced some very interesting millefiori weights, and they were one of the earlier Scottish paperweight makers.

The manufacture of paperweights by the Chinese industrial giant has produced inexpensive copies of the famous patterns and may be responsible for the demise of quality manufacture.

Nearly all Chinese weights lack the precision that is seen in finely worked, signed Scottish pieces. The glass might be a poorer quality and the craftsmanship often crude. Most of the bottoms of these weights are flat, with a sandblasted appearance, and a somewhat irregularly shaped surface. There may also be pontil scars on the base, and some errant bubbles and dirt trapped within the glass domes. The motif generally lack proper proportions and colouring. However, Chinese weights are colourful, can be inspirational, and are normally moderately priced. They make starter pieces for new collectors rather than collections.