| Solid glass paperweights seem to belong to | | | | a bonus, the facets create lots of light reflections, |
| another time. Yet there are thousands of | | | | which give the weights a certain mystique. |
| paperweight collectors today. What draws | | | | What a passion Robert had for handcrafted |
| collectors to the diminutive world of | | | | paperweights. Some of his sulfides can be found |
| paperweights? Nothing is as beautiful or | | | | in the collections of former Presidents of the |
| mysterious as a handcrafted paperweight, | | | | United States and other dignitaries. For many |
| especially if it was fashioned by a master glass | | | | years, avid collectors bought his weights and |
| artist. | | | | displayed them prominently in their homes and |
| A Glass Family | | | | businesses. |
| Growing up in a glass family, I developed a love | | | | A Dazzling Display |
| for paperweights early in life. By the time I was | | | | While I loved the esteemed paperweights of |
| fourteen years old, I was collecting my uncle's | | | | famous glass shops, such as Baccarat and St. |
| paperweights. He was a glassblower and owner | | | | Louis, none were more interesting to me than my |
| operator of Hamon Glass Company in Scott | | | | uncle's paperweights. I loved to visit his studio |
| Depot, West Virginia. My uncle, Robert L. Hamon, | | | | where literally hundreds of his paperweights were |
| was known for his marvelous paperweights. | | | | on dazzling display. Some were sitting on small |
| Other members of my family have made | | | | bases which shot a beam of light through the |
| paperweights, as well, but none have been more | | | | glass, creating a remarkable effect. Inside each |
| serious than my uncle. | | | | glass globe there was a fascinating world of color, |
| Rose Paperweights | | | | character and form. |
| Robert L. Hamon made a wonderful paperweight | | | | How I would sit for hours in the Hamon Glass |
| called the Hamon cut rose. Different than a crimp | | | | studio staring into those exquisite glass globes, |
| rose, a hand cut rose is more beautiful. Each petal | | | | exploring the swirling inclusions with an eager eye. |
| is individually formed by cutting in four places a | | | | My uncle's finest weights seemed to reveal a |
| small blob of hot glass, which is encased in crystal. | | | | world within a world, a magical, colorful world |
| The Hamon roses almost looked real, floating in a | | | | whose secrets were discovered only by those |
| faceted slab of crystal, their petals flanked by | | | | who cared to tarry long enough to enter the |
| beautiful green leaves. He made rose | | | | hidden kingdom of handcrafted glass. |
| paperweights in several colors, such as ruby and | | | | In any good glass collection you will find vases, |
| orange, but my favorite was yellow. | | | | bowls, paperweights, figurines and other types of |
| My uncle made sulfides, cane weights and ice pick | | | | decorative glass. Yet nothing is as alluring as the |
| paperweights. The latter were most interesting to | | | | paperweights. Like poison arrow frogs, the |
| me, as a young man. Gorgeous crystal covered | | | | marvels of the rain forest, paperweights are the |
| twisted, swirling abstract forms. No two were | | | | jewels of the glass world. |
| ever alike. These were usually dome-shaped, and | | | | If you would like to find out more about Robert L. |
| were rarely faceted, unlike the other weights he | | | | Hamon, glass artist extraordinaire, you will enjoy |
| made. Faceting creates little windows through | | | | visiting his website, and feasting your eyes on |
| which one can view the weight's interior. And, as | | | | photos of his lovely glass works. |