Large Antique Millville Umbrella Paperweight. This style of old paperweight is associated with Millville, New Jersey. Examples date from as early as 1860 and continued to be made until about 1912. Many, if not all, were made at the Whitall Tatum factory in Millville. The design consists of a white mushroom shape with a center bubble. Additional colored bits of glass are added and melted into the top. The top is of the mushroom is pushed down with a crimp to form an umbrella shape with ribs or pleats. The design is placed over a white frit ground. This paperweight has minor flaws including surface scratches and an abraded area on the side, but displays beautifully. The design is well executed and displays many of the typical Millville umbrella characteristics. Please Note: The stand shown in the pictures is not included with the paperweight. It is shown for illustration only. Note on white glare : Please ignore the white areas, they are glare from the light. The umbrella shaped weights were originally modeled to resemble the wild tiger lily of Southern New Jersey. You can read about umbrella weights from Millville in the book Old Glass Paperweights of Southern New Jersey: An American Folk Art by Clarence A. It is not possible to identify the exact maker, but John Ruhlander, Emil Stanger, Marcus Kuntz, and Horace Rhubarth, and Ralph Barber are all known to have made weights of this style. Sometimes the style is also used as part of an inkwell or other object. Large Size : Just over 3″ diameter by just under 2 3/4″ high. The base is ground flat. Condition : Very good condition. It has several scratches on the side, the longest of which is 1 long (see picture). There is also one area that is abraded – maybe it was placed on its side when still hot. Some wear on the base. No chips or cracks. Allan’s Paperweights is owned by Allan Port. If in doubt, please check with me first. Please do not ask me to declare this a gift.
