Paperweights & Murrine

I mainly make “one of one” paperweights in what is known as the Classic French style. Although I incorporate canes, such as my complex, picture and rose canes, that are unique to me.  Being self-taught and not trained in these techniques makes my canes unique to this art form, and instantly recognisable as being mine.  I do not use millefiori except to create my complex murine and to occasionally blow with them.

I would love to put all of the images of weights I have made on this page but decided to only show a limited number. There were also some early weights that I have made that I do not have images for, unfortunately. I have selected a range of before 2006 (non-concentric weights) and after 2006 ( concentric weights) made in different years showing my progression in this art form. All of these paperweights have been made at Twists Glass Studio.

My inspiration for the special canes is in the flora, fauna and surroundings of the Scottish Borders where we live and work. Occasionally inspiration comes from visits to an art gallery, zoo or just from something that catches my eye and starts me thinking “What if”.

Picture cane murine holds a special interest and is the most time-consuming technique to master. Individually these take months to make, with a lot of preparation, making sure I have all the right colours needed and pulling enough to use. There are days of pulling coloured threads before I can even start!  Placing one thread at a time, sometimes the thickness of a hair makes this a very time-consuming project with no guarantee of success.

 A few of these archive weights and murine slices are for sale please telephone or email for prices. Some may not be for sale at this time.

 

 

  • These Picture Canes are slices of murine showing front and back, made by Mike. Girl approx. 24mm Marilyn approx. 23mm

  • Pixelated murine.

  • "Serene"- a new cane for 2018.

  • "Girl" side 1.

  • "Girl" mosaic type set up side 2, before murrine is formed.

  • Toucan mosaic type set up before cane is made.

  • Lovebirds mosaic type set up before cane is made.

  • Gouldian Finch mosaic type set up before cane in formed.

  • Pigeon in bamboo. One of one. SOLD.

  • Bee-eater. Ltd Ed. SOLD.

  • Spill vases, torch work and lattice tops. SOLD

  • Dendrobium orchid. One of one. SOLD

  • Tortilis orchid, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Multi flower, ltd ed, SOLD

  • Sonia, ltd ed, SOLD

  • Kimberley, ltd ed, SOLD

  • Early lamp work flowers in basket. One of one. SOLD.

  • Early lamp work dahlia with butterfly. One of one. SOLD

  • Ballons in the sky, miniature. SOLD

  • Made for the exhibition "25 years of the PCC". Butterfly on muslin, split cane crown with flower, leaves shape into 25. One of one. SOLD

  • Split cane crown with blue roses. One of one. SOLD

  • Magnum split crown weight.

  • Swirl & flower, ltd ed, SOLD

  • Black & white swirl with flower, ltd ed, Sold

  • Blue roses on white lattice. SOLD

  • Double latticinio. Evil Snowman, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Double latticinio with daft no 2, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Latticinio over Zanfirico, 3rd daft, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Double latticinio with Murrine. One of one. SOLD

  • Blue rose trellis, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Butterfly, torsarde on muslin. Sold

  • Complex cane, torsarde on muslin. A number of these were made in different colours. Some still available.

  • Pink & blue tornado Murrine.

  • Pink & peppermint torsade.

  • Pink & flamingo torsade with complex canes.

  • Dog rose on muslin with split cane torsade.

  • Primrose & split cane torsade. Sold

  • Blue split crown. SOLD

  • Green split cane crown. Sold

  • Blue crown weight & latticinio spill vase. Sold

  • Green crown wt with latticinio top. SOLD

  • Blue frog on water lily. SOLD

  • Green frog on water lily. Sold

  • Green frog & water lily. SOLD

  • Whispers, ltd ed, SOLD.

  • Whispers, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Lizard pwt. Sold

  • Turquoise lizard pwt, old. SOLD

  • Blue lizard pwt old. Sold

  • Ruby Lizard pwt, old. Sold

  • Light blue lizard pwt, old. SOLD

  • Purple lizard pwt, old. SOLD

  • Rose lizard pwt, old. SOLD

  • Green lizard pwt, old. Sold

  • Easy......riders. One of one. SOLD

  • Motorbike, one of one. SOLD

  • Indian. One of one. SOLD

  • Two up. One of one. SOLD

  • Motorbike. Sold

  • Motorbike Sold

  • Motorbike Sold

  • Motorbike Sold

  • Motorbike 1 Sold

  • Motorbike 2 Sold

  • Motorbike 3 Sold

  • Motorbike 4 Sold

  • Motorbike 5 Sold

  • Wheelie, one of one. SOLD

  • Yellow star. One of one. SOLD

  • Waterfall. One of one. SOLD

  • Watch out...sheep. One of one. SOLD

  • Up-hill. One of one. SOLD

  • T tortillis orchid. Sold

  • Orchid, rossii & tortillas. Sold

  • O. rossii, orchid. Sold

  • Loch, latticinio crown, ltd ed. SOLD

  • Heather, latticinio crown, ltd ed. SOLD

  • No1, swirl, torch worked flower, 2006. In artists collection.

  • No 2, Arran and Mike close pack, 2008. SOLD.

  • No 3, concentric, 2008. Sold

  • No 4, carpet ground, 2009.

  • No 5, carpet ground, 2009.

  • No 6, carpet ground, 2009.

  • No 7, butterfly silhouette's, 2010. SOLD

  • An older weight with the first butterfly silhouette cane I made. SOLD

  • No 11, end of murine rose cane paperweight, 2014. In artist collection.

  • No 8, red rose canes. 2011. SOLD

  • No 9, blue rose complex canes. 2012.

  • No 10, concentric, 2013. Sold

  • Rosey Faced Owl. In artists collection.

  • No 12, rabbit silhouette cane, 2014. SOLD

  • No 13, light yellow roses and daisy's, 2015. In artists collection.

  • No 14, red roses and daisy's, 2016. In artists collection.

  • Another 1 of 1 in the "Dancing" weights. SOLD

  • 2018 as "Strictly come dancing" starts on the TV the dancing silhouette canes were made. SOLD

  • All new canes for 2018, including dancing lady and dancing man silhouette canes. SOLD

  • "Girl" on a topaz purple and white latticinio ground, another one of one. 2018. SOLD

  • "Girl latticinio" paperweight, which is a one of one. 2017. SOLD

  • "Girl" one of our picture cane murine on a gold leaf and purple overlay. A one of one, 2017. SOLD

  • Concentric paperweight made in the old French style and is a one of one, 2018. Normal size Ht 5cm W 7cm Approx. SOLD

  • A one of one Closepack paperweight made in the old French style. 2018 Normal size approx. Ht 5cm W 7cm. SOLD

  • A lilac, blue and orange concentric, one of one. 2018. SOLD

  • No 15, Queen Elizabeth 2, 90th birthday weight, 2017

  • No 16, concentric, 2018.

  • No 17, a commissioned weight featuring our new rose cane and new Model T Ford car silhouette cane, 2019. SOLD

  • No18, Marilyn Amongst the Flowers 2019. In Artists collection.