Who Invented the Paperweights?
The Earliest Paperweights Appeared in Europe in the Mid-1840S. Venetian Glassmaker Pietro Bigaglia Created and Exhibited the First Signed and Dated Weights at...
The earliest paperweights appeared in Europe in the mid-1840s. Venetian glassmaker Pietro Bigaglia created and exhibited the first signed and dated weights at the Vienna Industrial Exposition in 1845. He, like other paperweight makers of the time, revived many ancient glassworking techniques to create his weights.
Where did paperweights come from?
The Oxford English Dictionary places the first written usage of the word “paperweight” in an 1822 auction listing from The Times (London), while Oxford Art Online's "paperweight" entry says they were introduced around 1830 in Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic) and then first made in Europe in 1845 by Venetian glass ...
Why are paperweights a thing?
A paperweight is a small solid object heavy enough, when placed on top of papers, to keep them from blowing away in a breeze or from moving under the strokes of a painting brush (as with Japanese calligraphy).
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
