This is another lovely vintage paperweight entitled Sunflower (Style One). It is an early Caithness weight. It dates to 1972 and is CT-13. It is classified as being designed by Colin Terris.
It was made only two years after he was appointed as Design Director in 1970. Terris revolutionized paperweight design by instigating a shift towards more abstract styles and away from traditional techniques. He worked at Caithness alongside Paul Ysart and remained at Caithness as one of their leading designers for over 30 years. .
This early weight was a limited edition of 500. The one is numbered on the base 312 / 500. It also has the etched title: Sunflower / CG 1972. It also has an early Caithness Glass paper label. It also has an etched mark CT / PH - which suggests that this paperweight might have been a collaborative ventury by Terris and Peter Holmes.
The weight has a clear plum coloured ground with an abstract shape (like a sunflower) made up of air bubbles colour burnt orange. Between the fingers of the orange shape are little silvery clear air bubbles. A plum coloured flume issues from the centre and forms a stamen with a larger single air bubble inside it.
It is in good condition with no chips or scratches etc. I have taken lots of images for you to look at all the details in close-up. It was a little difficult to photograph - so I hope that my photos do it justice.
It is a large weight measuring: It is 2 1/2 inches in height with a diameter of 3 inches.
It comes with its original dark blue Caithness presentation box - which is pretty good condition given that it is now over 50 years old. The interior of the box is silk lined. It has a couple of little areas of discolouration to the silk - where the foam below has naturally over time discoloured the white material. It would be easy enough to replace the original white silk.
It also has its original certificate, as photographed. It states that this weight had been hand-made at Wick, Scotland.
Again, this is not such a common weight, and this is reflected in my asking price. It is one of the earliest weights made at Caithness and is certainly of historical interest.
Postage will be with Royal Mail Tracked (Small Parcel) Postage. This will be applied at check out.