This is a rare limited edition paperweight - made in 1998 by the great Caithness glass designer, Colin Terris
It is annotated with the title and issue details on the base.
This is a very rare and much sought after weight.
It is from a very small edition of only 100 - but only 89 were ever made. This is Number 11.
My beautiful weight is from Terris' Water Lily Collection and dates to 1998
I must admit that I am totally enthralled by this wonderful paperweight and never quite seen one so beautiful or magnificent in technical achievement and skill of the designer.
The title is Oriental Pool - and it is domed or egg-shaped.
Let me described it for you. The weight is 3 1/2 inches in height and with a width at the widest point of 3 inches. It is shaped like a large egg. The exterior has a satin or frosted textured finish to the glass - with a faceted oval polished viewing panel to the front. When you turn the weight around to the back there is a blue tinge to the glass - and gently and subtly engraved into the rear is a view of a Japanese garden with a semi-circular bridge and high trees - rather like Monet's Japanese garden. When you hold the weight up to the light - the image on the back fairly glows and it quite luminescent in feel.
Turn to the front and look into the polished oval facet - and you see floating on an oriental pond of mottle greens and blues - lots of pink waterlilies - it is all very beautiful - above the pond flowers and in the centre of the weight - hovers a little rainbow coloured dragonfly. All the details are just exquisite.
This was always a very expensive weight and on its issue 22 years ago - examples were sold in top retail establishments for £225. So always a weight for the more specialist collector - this is reflected in my asking price for this.
It is in excellent vintage condition with no chips or cracks - and no scratches or rubbing to the frosted finish. There are a couple of white flecks (in the making) in a couple of wee engraved lines on the image on the reverse but these are not damages but made by Mr Terris when he was engraving the weight.
This is a fantastic weight - and a rare opportunity to own one of these issues from the Water Lily Series - it is certainly a work of art in glass.
Please note any white marks on my weight are on the photos and not on the weight... this is no issues with regard condition etc.