By Patricia Faulhaber Paperweights have been around for centuries. The original purpose of these decorative orbs of glass was to keep papers from blowing around the desk or onto the floor. Before the days of air conditioning, many offices or businesses would leave a door or windows open and any wind coming through would blow the papers around. The production of paperweights has continued long past the development of air conditioning which has greatly diminished the need for them as an office tool. These days, they are collected mainly for the art rather than the function and have been a collector’s dream item almost from the start. The decorative glass balls or other shapes such as squares, flat discs, fruits, birds or animals have always been made with a focus on the creative side. One thing in common amongst all the different shapes is they all have a flat bottom. Artworks inside the paperweights are also made of glass and often include colorful canes, lifelike flowers, amusing animal shapes and complex patterns or shapes. Most have been handmade by skilled and talented glass craftsmen. While antique paperweights are sought by collectors, many also turn to more contemporary weights that have been made in the last 100 years by talented glass artists. One such artist was John St. Clair. He came to the United States in 1888 from Alsace-Lorraine France with his wife Rosalie. They first lived in Crystal City, Mo., before moving to Elwood, Ind. The company the couple started still exists today and is called the House of Glass. It is owned by Joe Rice who is a part of the St. Clair family. After the company went through some hills and valleys with consumer demand and was owned by several different family members throughout the years, Rice purchased the company from his uncle in 1987. He had worked at the family glass factory since 1962. It is still located in Elwood. Rice said the collector’s market has changed several times over the years. He said in the 1960s through the early 2000s, there was a huge following of his family’s paperweights. “A lot of people were buying our pieces at auctions during that time,” Rice said, “There was a huge following of collectors of paperweights in general back then. We generally make our products for wholesale companies, museums and private collectors. We did a lot of custom made over the years.” Rice said their signature paperweights have long been the magnificent florals encased in the paperweight. One of the most sought after was the crimped rose. The House of Glass also makes other glass items such as lamps, sulphides in unusual shapes, teapot shaped ring holders, perfume bottles and bird shaped paperweights. “The crimped rose paperweights sold for around $150 but after my Uncle Joe, who was the expert at making them died in 1987, they were selling for around $5,000,” Rice said. He added that some of the top selling paperweights for collectors are those made from the 1940s through the early 1980s. “Not many people can afford an expensive piece of art, but most are able to afford the cost of a paperweight and that makes them attractive to many collectors,” Rice said. The St. Clair’s used several different marks on their paperweights through the years. Rice said that his grandfather rarely put any markings on his products but when he did, there were two different stamps. One included STC in caps and a second one included StC with a lower-case t in the middle. Those stamps were used from 1938-1958. From 1958 to 1962, the paperweights were marked with St. Clair on the bottom. There were two different St. Clair stamps. The newer stamp has the letters more raised than the older stamp. Starting in1962, Rice said that each glass maker in the family had their own stamp they used on the bottom of the paperweights and other items each craftsman made. Rice said, “We are one of the few companies that actually stamped their paperweights. That’s one of the reasons we became so popular. Our products were quality made and were stamped. The stamp has to be put in the glass hot to make it authentic. Any of the glass made after I purchased the company in 1987 to 2018 is stamped on the bottom with Joe Rice.” Rice said that his family has always been very good at what they do and highly proficient at making paperweights by hand. The company could produce 130-150 paperweights per day because of a perfected production technique. The company has been well known over the years for their quality craftsmanship, the quality of crystal glass they use and the variety of colors available. They have made glass for people in almost every country in the world. “I’ve loved what I’ve done over the years. I love working with the people and it’s been a good life. There is a passage from Dr. Seuss that goes “Don’t cry because it’s over but smile because it happened.” As I look to retiring soon, that’s the way I feel about my life. Some of my greatest gifts have been owning a glass making factory and meeting all the people over the years,” Rice said. His advice to beginning collectors includes, “If you see it and you like it and can afford it, then buy it. That’s how most collectors get started. If you are attracted to a particular color, design or style, you’ll want to find and buy more of it, that’s how collecting really begins.” |