These paperweights by the American glass maestro Rick Ayotte - are just truly astounding. This is a very attractive weight by him made in 1995 - it is signed and dated.
The etched inscription to the base area reads: Signed to the base Rick Ayotte Ed/50, 95
It shows a little delicate posy of pink miniature roses.
Ayotte's paperweights are very special pieces and much sought after by collectors - my price for this unique vintage one is a fair one.
This is a super paperweight with a faceted or cushion-cut shape, a mixed bouquet of delicate white and pink flowers.
Diameter 9 cm (3 1/2 inches) and with a height of 6 cm.
The paperweight is in pristine condition - any white marks in my images are not on the weight - but are simply caused by reflections.
Postage quoted here is for special next day delivery with the Royal Mail in the UK.
BIOGRAPHY: Rick was born in 1944 in New Hampshire in the United States. At the age of 18, he began a career as a scientific glass-blower and became highly skilled in manipulating hot glass.
In his spare time, Ayotte used to make and sell little lampwork figures. In the 1970s, he was encouraged by fellow glass designer, Paul Stankard to encase these figures in glass spheres - and hence Ayotte's career in creating paperweights was born.
His naturalistic depictions of birds, butterflies, and his colourful bouquets of fruit and flowers - encased in crystal - have attracted the attention of collectors and are eagerly sought after and highly prized at auction.
Rick Ayotte’s weights are signed and dated on the side and in the case of limited editions also indicate the size of the edition.