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.
Motorbike
Motorbike
Motorbike
Motorbike 1
Motorbike 2
Motorbike 3
Motorbike 5
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.
Orchid, rossii & tortillas.
O. rossii, orchid.
O. rossii, orchid.
T. tortillis orchid.
Loch, latticinio crown, ltd ed. SOLD
Heather, latticinio crown, ltd ed. SOLD
No1, swirl, torch worked flower, 2006.
No 2, Arran and Mike close pack, 2008. SOLD.
No 3, concentric, 2008.
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.
No 8, red rose canes. 2011. SOLD
No 9, blue rose complex canes. 2012.
No 10, concentric, 2013.
Rosey Faced Owl
No 12, rabbit silhouette cane, 2014. SOLD
No 13, light yellow roses and daisy's, 2015.
No 14, red roses and daisy's, 2016.
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