Perthshire 1975B Penguin Paperweight Annual Collection Limited Edition

  

Perthshire Annual Collection 1975B Limited Edition Penguin Paperweight. This magnum sized paperweight features a penguin inside a hollow paperweight with a translucent blue flash overlay. The penguin is standing on a small ice floe; the translucent blue overlay represents the cold blue sea. This is one of a series of hollow weights each with a different animal. The translucent blue overlay is faceted with one large top facet and 16 side facets (eight large and eight smaller facets).

It is signed with a "P" signature cane on the base of the ice flow. It also has its original Perthshire paper label "PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS CRIEFF SCOTLAND" on the base. It comes with its original certificate identifying this as #213 out of a limited edition of 350 weights, of which 316 actually made. A wonderful paperweight that sparkles like iced water. The hollow weights like this are one of the favorites of collectors since they are so difficult to make. This paperweight is a joy to examine. Perthshire made this paperweight as one of their annual collection items for 1975. This means the design was made only that one year and never again. There were five annual collection designs in 1975, designated A through E. It was limited to a maximum of 350 paperweights, of which only 316 were actually made. The annual collection paperweights are the most desirable of the Perthshire line, with the exception of one of one items. 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.

Perthshire was a small company in Crieff, Scotland that was devoted to the creation of quality glass paperweights. They stopped production in January 2002 after more than 30 years of production.

Their paperweights were consistently high in quality and yet remained reasonable in price. The birth of Scottish paperweight making is credited to the glass making family of Salvador Ysart, who moved to Crieff, Scotland in 1922. They worked first at John Moncrieff Ltd and made the earliest Scottish paperweights during that period. In 1946 Salvadore and his sons Augustine and Vincent founded Ysart Brothers Glass and produced glass wares under the Vasart label. Salvador Ysart died in 1955 The company name was later changed to Vasart Glass.

Stuart Drysdale was hired manage the business side of the enterprise in 1960. The company evolved into a new company Strathearn owned by Teachers Whiskey.

In 1967 Drysdale was sent a magazine article on antique paperweights (Woman's Day, July 1965). The inspired him to try to produce weights comparable to the French antiques. With this goal in mind, he and several of the glass workers left Strathearn to found Perthshire in 1968. Magnum size : 3 1/8" diameter by 2 9/16" high. It is faceted with one large top facet and 16 side facets (eight large and eight smaller facets). The base is polished flat. Signature : Signed with a Perthshire "P" on the base. It comes with its original certificate identifying this as #213 out of a limited edition of 350 weights.

Condition : Excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or scratches. 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.