Paperweights - Murano Paperweights for Sale

Allan's Paperweights

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Murano Paperweights for Sale

The glass paperweights on this page were made on the Island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Most were made between 1960 and 2000.

Venetian glass making dates back centuries and the Venetians are given credit for the earliest millefiori canes and paperweights in 1840s. More recently, paperweight making was revived in the 1930s and again in the 1960s.

If you would like to purchase any of these paperweights, e-mail me at: aport@paperweights.com

2313 Large Vintage Murano Millefiori Mushroom Concentric Paperweight.   circa 1970. Fantastic Murano millefiori mushroom paperweight with concentric millefiori pattern. It has four rings of pastel colored cog and floral canes around a center cane. The outer ring of cog canes is pulled down to a small base to form a stave basket.
Most Murano attempts at a mushroom do not pull the canes down to the base. This is one of those rare exceptions where the quality of execution equals that of a St. Louis Mushroom. A very hard to find example of the best of Murano millefiori designs.
Large Size:   3" diameter by 3 5/8” high. The bottom is ground flat.
Condition: Excellent condition with no scratches, chips, or cracks. The base has a few very minor scratches from wear.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.
Execution: Outstanding execution with an almost perfect mushroom. There are a few tiny bubbles in the design. The glass is slightly yellowish.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
Large picture of the paperweight
Side view showing mushroom shape
Top down picture
Close up view
Bottom view
SOLD.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

58 Vintage Murano Concentric Paperweight with 1869 Date.   circa 1930-1960. Vintage concentric design with pedestal base and fake 1869 date. It has five rings of cog and floral canes around the 1869 date cane. This is a hard to find example of an early Murano weight that was intended to fool collectors.
A similar paperweight is shown in Figures 69 & 71, page 42 of Selman's first book Paperweights for Collectors
Size:   3"” diameter by 3 1/8” high. The bottom is fire finished.
Condition: Very good condition for its age. It has one small nick on the top and a couple of minor scratches on the top, but no significant cracks or chips.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
Large picture of the paperweight
Top down picture
Profile View
$195 postage paid in the US.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2953 Unusual Large Murano Millefiori Column Paperweight.   circa 1970. This is an unusual octagon shaped Murano paperweight with a column of millefiori flowers and vines in the center. There are about 50 small flower shaped millefiori arranged on eight or nine vines. The vines are twisted around a clear center column. The outer layer of glass is finished with eight sides in an octagon shape. The glass has a yellow tint. Although hard to visualize, this is a pleasing large paperweight.
Large Size:   2 5/8" at the widest point by 3 1/4” high.   The shape is eight sided with a flat top and bottom. See the picture of the paperweight on its side.
Condition: Excellent condition. No scratches, chips, or cracks found on inspection, with the exception of slight scratches on the base.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.
Execution: Very good execution. The design is balanced and well executed. There are a few bubbles in the design.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
Large picture of the paperweight
Closeup of the millefiori and vines
Another view with the paperweight on its side
$69 postage paid in the US.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2937 Magnum Murano Pedestal Millefiori Crown Paperweight.   circa 1930-1970. Wonderful example of a Murano pedestal crown paperweight with millefiori canes on top. The crown is formed from 24 alternating strands of rose and white colored twists. The rose colored twists have gold edges to add sparkle. There are fourteen millefiori canes on top. An outstanding paperweight for any collector of paperweights or Murano glass.
Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. Pedestal crowns are the most desirable.
Please ignore the white areas on the base. They are reflections and not on the paperweight.
Size:   3 1/4" diameter by just over 4 1/2” high. The base is just under 3 1/2" diameter. The base is cone shaped and all wear is on the outer edges.
Condition: Excellent condition. No scratches, chips, or cracks found on inspection. The base is cone shaped and all wear is on the outer edges.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.
Execution: Excellent execution. The design is balanced and well executed.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
Large picture of the paperweight
Top Down View
Bottom View
Close-up view
SOLD.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2663 Murano Close Packed Concentric Millefiori Paperweight.   circa 1970. This paperweight has a concentric pattern of identical complex millefiori arranged in two concentric circle around a matching central complex millefiori cane. There is an outer ring of yellow and green complex canes and an inner ring of white and recd complex canes. This close packed design is over a clear ground. A very attractive paperweight that displays beautifully.
Medium Size:   2 1/2" diameter by 2 1/8" high. The base is ground flat.
Condition: Excellent Condition. Aside from some scratches on the base, there were no other signs of wear that I could find. No cracks or chips.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy, probably by Fratelli Toso.
Execution: Excellent execution. The design is balanced and well executed.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
Large picture of the paperweight
Close-up view
Profile view
$49 postage paid in the US.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2203 Rare Huge AVEM Murano Millefiori Doorstop or Paperweight possibly by Anzolo Fuga.   circa 1950-1960. Wonderful huge millefiori paperweight from A.V.E.M. in Murano. This style is hollow blown with the millefiori design in the surface layers. There are several layers to this paperweight starting with a green inner layer. A layer of silver foil comes next and then several layers of filigree and millefiori followed by a clear encasement layer. This is a truly wonderful paperweight.
A.V.E.M. or Arte Vetraria Muranese was founded on the Island of Murano in Venice, Italy in 1932. This piece was probably designed by Anzolo Fuga, who also decorated the pieces with millefiori slices under the direction of master glass maker Luciano Ferro.   Fuga was at A.V.E.M. from 1955 to 1962. For more details see pages 48 & 49 of the book Fifties Glass by Leslie Pina.
Very Large Size: Approximately 7 1/4" diameter by 4 3/8" high. The paperweight weighs almost six pounds. The pontil mark has been ground flat. There is an opening in the bottom. This is a hollow blown paperweight.
Condition: Very good to Excellent Condition. There are some tiny scratches, but no other flaws that I could find. No chips or cracks.
Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this was made at the AVEM factory on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.
Execution: Excellent execution. The design is balanced and well executed.
For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:
Large picture of the paperweight
Close-up View
Large picture showing the whole top
Picture from another side
Another side view
Another close-up (the paperweight is upside down and you can see a bit of the bottom)
Bottom View
Another Bottom View
SOLD.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

972 Rare Murano Dated 1887 Paperweight with Surface Millefiori.   circa 1950-1970. Colorful Murano millefiori paperweight with a fake 1887 date. The millefiori in this paperweight are at the surface of the paperweight and are not encased in a top clear layer of glass. The finish is almost a matte finish.
Murano paperweights with fake dates are an interesting sub-collection. Some people collect these paperweights with the goal of getting examples of each date. Some dates correspond dates used in real antique French or American paperweights, but there are no antique paperweights known to have an 1887 date.
Size: Approximately 3" diameter by 2 5/8" high. The bottom has been ground flat. Circa 1950-1970.
Excellent condition with no defects noted.
SOLD
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2026 Small AVEM Murano Millefiori Scramble Paperweight.   circa 1950-1970. Wonderful millefiori scramble filled with colorful white, green, pink, and blue latticinio and quite a bit of gold colored aventurine.
This paperweight was probably made at AVEM. A.V.E.M. or Arte Vetraria Muranese was founded on the Island of Murano in Venice, Italy in 1932. For more details, compare this paperweight to the AVEM pear and apple paperweights on page 49 of the book Fifties Glass by Leslie Pina.
Size: 2 1/8" diameter by 1 5/8" high. The base has been ground flat.
Good condition. No chips or cracks. There are a few scratches or surface abrasions that don't interfere with the great appearance of this paperweight.                    SOLD
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2665 Murano Closepack Millefiori Paperweight.   circa 1965. Colorful Murano paperweight with 43 colorful cogged millefiori canes set over a multicolor frit and aventurine ground. A beautiful weight with a variety of interesting canes.
Large Size: 3" diameter by 2 3/8" high.
Very good condition with no chips or cracks. There are, however, a couple of small scuff marks on the surface. This was probably made in the 1960s by Fratelli Toso. There is the remnant of a red and silver label "MADE IN MURANO ITALY".    SOLD
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

867 Medium Murano Crown Hollow Blown Paperweight.   circa 1950-1970. Colorful Murano crown crown paperweight. The weight is formed from 16 alternating strands of white, pink lavender and purple twists. This crown paperweight is unusual in that it is hollow blown with a large bubble in the center in the style of antique crown paperweights. Most modern crown paperweights are solid in the center. An outstanding paperweight for any collector of paperweights or Murano glass.
Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. Hollow blown crown weights are even more difficult to make and are hard to find.
A similar hollow crown paperweight appears on page 51 of Jargstorf Paperweights and is attributed to Fratelli Toso.
Size: 2 1/3" diameter by just under 2" high. The bottom has been ground flat. Circa 1950-1970.                    SOLD
Excellent condition with no flaws found.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2221 Murano Closepack Millefiori Cross Paperweight.   circa 1970. This paperweight has a patterned millefiori design with four sections of white cog cane millefiori separated by a blue cog canes in a cross pattern.   The ground is a colorful mix of multi-colored frit pieces.
Medium Size: 2 1/3" diameter by 2 1/4" high. This was probably made in the 1970s.
Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. No scratches found on inspection. Bottom is ground flat.                     SOLD
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

1396 Large Antique Venetian Scrambled Millefiori Paperweight.   circa 1840-1880. Colorful Venetian scrambled paperweight dating from the early years of Venetian paperweight making. It is not possible to identify the exact maker, although this was possibly made by Pietro Bigaglia in the 1840s. It is filled with large pieces of twist cane and filigree including some with aventurine.
Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory.
Large Size: 3 1/3" diameter by just over 2" high. circa 1840-1880. This paperweight has a wide basal rim and is ground concave with a remnant of the pontil mark.
Very good condition.   Original finish with a somewhat rough surface and minor scratches.    SOLD
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

1899 Murano Millefiori Garland Paperweight.   circa 1950-1970. Colorful Murano millefiori paperweight with a five sided millefiori garland is copied from a Clichy antique paperweight. There is a nice complex bundle of millefiori in the center. The ground is a multi-colored frit ground with aventurine (gold).
Size: 3" diameter by 2 3/8" high. The bottom has been ground flat. Circa 1950-1970. The central bundle off center as shown in the picture. Very good condition with some minor scratches near the base. The bottom is ground flat.
SOLD
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

770 Unusual Vintage Murano Scramble Paperweight with White Ground.   circa 1880-1930. Colorful Murano scramble paperweight consisting blue, green, and red cog canes over an opaque white ground. This is a very unusual setup and I believe it was made in 19th century or the early part of the 20th century.
Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory.
Size: Approximately 2 3/8" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The bottom has been ground flat and then ground concave in the center. Circa 1880 - 1930.
Very Good condition. There is minor wear on the dome and scratches on the dome plus considerable wear on the base.
SOLD.
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Click on the picture to see a larger image

2313	Large Vintage Murano Millefiori Mushroom Concentric Paperweight. circa 1970. Fantastic Murano millefiori mushroom paperweight with concentric millefiori pattern. It has four rings of pastel colored cog and floral canes around a center cane. The outer ring of cog canes is pulled down to a small base to form a stave basket. Most Murano attempts at a mushroom do not pull the canes down to the base. This is one of those rare exceptions where the quality of execution equals that of a St. Louis Mushroom. A very hard to find example of the best of Murano millefiori designs. Large Size: 3" diameter by 3 5/8” high. The bottom is ground flat. Condition: Excellent condition with no scratches, chips, or cracks. The base has a few very minor scratches from wear. Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Execution: Outstanding execution with an almost perfect mushroom. There are a few tiny bubbles in the design. The glass is slightly yellowish. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Side view showing mushroom shape Top down picture Close up view Bottom view SOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
58	Vintage Murano Concentric Paperweight with 1869 Date. circa 1930-1960. Vintage concentric design with pedestal base and fake 1869 date. It has five rings of cog and floral canes around the 1869 date cane. This is a hard to find example of an early Murano weight that was intended to fool collectors. A similar paperweight is shown in Figures 69 & 71, page 42 of Selman's first book Paperweights for Collectors Size: 3"” diameter by 3 1/8” high. The bottom is fire finished. Condition: Very good condition for its age. It has one small nick on the top and a couple of minor scratches on the top, but no significant cracks or chips. Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Top down picture Profile View $195 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2953	Unusual Large Murano Millefiori Column Paperweight. circa 1970. This is an unusual octagon shaped Murano paperweight with a column of millefiori flowers and vines in the center. There are about 50 small flower shaped millefiori arranged on eight or nine vines. The vines are twisted around a clear center column. The outer layer of glass is finished with eight sides in an octagon shape. The glass has a yellow tint. Although hard to visualize, this is a pleasing large paperweight. Large Size: 2 5/8" at the widest point by 3 1/4” high. The shape is eight sided with a flat top and bottom. See the picture of the paperweight on its side. Condition: Excellent condition. No scratches, chips, or cracks found on inspection, with the exception of slight scratches on the base. Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Execution: Very good execution. The design is balanced and well executed. There are a few bubbles in the design. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Closeup of the millefiori and vines Another view with the paperweight on its side $69 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2937	Magnum Murano Pedestal Millefiori Crown Paperweight. circa 1930-1970. Wonderful example of a Murano pedestal crown paperweight with millefiori canes on top. The crown is formed from 24 alternating strands of rose and white colored twists. The rose colored twists have gold edges to add sparkle. There are fourteen millefiori canes on top. An outstanding paperweight for any collector of paperweights or Murano glass. Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. Pedestal crowns are the most desirable. Please ignore the white areas on the base. They are reflections and not on the paperweight. Size: 3 1/4" diameter by just over 4 1/2” high. The base is just under 3 1/2" diameter. The base is cone shaped and all wear is on the outer edges. Condition: Excellent condition. No scratches, chips, or cracks found on inspection. The base is cone shaped and all wear is on the outer edges. Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this is a paperweight from the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Execution: Excellent execution. The design is balanced and well executed. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Top Down View Bottom View Close-up view SOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2663	Murano Close Packed Concentric Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1970. This paperweight has a concentric pattern of identical complex millefiori arranged in two concentric circle around a matching central complex millefiori cane. There is an outer ring of yellow and green complex canes and an inner ring of white and recd complex canes. This close packed design is over a clear ground. A very attractive paperweight that displays beautifully. Medium Size: 2 1/2" diameter by 2 1/8" high. The base is ground flat. Condition: Excellent Condition. Aside from some scratches on the base, there were no other signs of wear that I could find. No cracks or chips. Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this paperweight was made on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy, probably by Fratelli Toso. Execution: Excellent execution. The design is balanced and well executed. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Close-up view Profile view $49 postage paid in the US. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2203	Rare Huge AVEM Murano Millefiori Doorstop or Paperweight possibly by Anzolo Fuga. circa 1950-1960. Wonderful huge millefiori paperweight from A.V.E.M. in Murano. This style is hollow blown with the millefiori design in the surface layers. There are several layers to this paperweight starting with a green inner layer. A layer of silver foil comes next and then several layers of filigree and millefiori followed by a clear encasement layer. This is a truly wonderful paperweight. A.V.E.M. or Arte Vetraria Muranese was founded on the Island of Murano in Venice, Italy in 1932. This piece was probably designed by Anzolo Fuga, who also decorated the pieces with millefiori slices under the direction of master glass maker Luciano Ferro. Fuga was at A.V.E.M. from 1955 to 1962. For more details see pages 48 & 49 of the book Fifties Glass by Leslie Pina. Very Large Size: Approximately 7 1/4" diameter by 4 3/8" high. The paperweight weighs almost six pounds. The pontil mark has been ground flat. There is an opening in the bottom. This is a hollow blown paperweight. Condition: Very good to Excellent Condition. There are some tiny scratches, but no other flaws that I could find. No chips or cracks. Signature: Unsigned, but I guarantee that this was made at the AVEM factory on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy. Execution: Excellent execution. The design is balanced and well executed. For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: Large picture of the paperweight Close-up View Large picture showing the whole top Picture from another side Another side view Another close-up (the paperweight is upside down and you can see a bit of the bottom) Bottom View Another Bottom View SOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
972	Rare Murano Dated 1887 Paperweight with Surface Millefiori. circa 1950-1970. Colorful Murano millefiori paperweight with a fake 1887 date. The millefiori in this paperweight are at the surface of the paperweight and are not encased in a top clear layer of glass. The finish is almost a matte finish. Murano paperweights with fake dates are an interesting sub-collection. Some people collect these paperweights with the goal of getting examples of each date. Some dates correspond dates used in real antique French or American paperweights, but there are no antique paperweights known to have an 1887 date. Size: Approximately 3" diameter by 2 5/8" high. The bottom has been ground flat. Circa 1950-1970. Excellent condition with no defects noted. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2026	Small AVEM Murano Millefiori Scramble Paperweight. circa 1950-1970. Wonderful millefiori scramble filled with colorful white, green, pink, and blue latticinio and quite a bit of gold colored aventurine. This paperweight was probably made at AVEM. A.V.E.M. or Arte Vetraria Muranese was founded on the Island of Murano in Venice, Italy in 1932. For more details, compare this paperweight to the AVEM pear and apple paperweights on page 49 of the book Fifties Glass by Leslie Pina. Size: 2 1/8" diameter by 1 5/8" high. The base has been ground flat. Good condition. No chips or cracks. There are a few scratches or surface abrasions that don't interfere with the great appearance of this paperweight. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2665	Murano Closepack Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1965. Colorful Murano paperweight with 43 colorful cogged millefiori canes set over a multicolor frit and aventurine ground. A beautiful weight with a variety of interesting canes. Large Size: 3" diameter by 2 3/8" high. Very good condition with no chips or cracks. There are, however, a couple of small scuff marks on the surface. This was probably made in the 1960s by Fratelli Toso. There is the remnant of a red and silver label "MADE IN MURANO ITALY". SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
867	Medium Murano Crown Hollow Blown Paperweight. circa 1950-1970. Colorful Murano crown crown paperweight. The weight is formed from 16 alternating strands of white, pink lavender and purple twists. This crown paperweight is unusual in that it is hollow blown with a large bubble in the center in the style of antique crown paperweights. Most modern crown paperweights are solid in the center. An outstanding paperweight for any collector of paperweights or Murano glass. Crown weights are considered by some to be the most exciting of all millefiori designs. They are extremely difficult to make. Hollow blown crown weights are even more difficult to make and are hard to find. A similar hollow crown paperweight appears on page 51 of Jargstorf Paperweights and is attributed to Fratelli Toso. Size: 2 1/3" diameter by just under 2" high. The bottom has been ground flat. Circa 1950-1970. SOLD Excellent condition with no flaws found. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
2221	Murano Closepack Millefiori Cross Paperweight. circa 1970. This paperweight has a patterned millefiori design with four sections of white cog cane millefiori separated by a blue cog canes in a cross pattern. The ground is a colorful mix of multi-colored frit pieces. Medium Size: 2 1/3" diameter by 2 1/4" high. This was probably made in the 1970s. Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. No scratches found on inspection. Bottom is ground flat. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
1396	Large Antique Venetian Scrambled Millefiori Paperweight. circa 1840-1880. Colorful Venetian scrambled paperweight dating from the early years of Venetian paperweight making. It is not possible to identify the exact maker, although this was possibly made by Pietro Bigaglia in the 1840s. It is filled with large pieces of twist cane and filigree including some with aventurine. Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory. Large Size: 3 1/3" diameter by just over 2" high. circa 1840-1880. This paperweight has a wide basal rim and is ground concave with a remnant of the pontil mark. Very good condition. Original finish with a somewhat rough surface and minor scratches. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
1899	Murano Millefiori Garland Paperweight. circa 1950-1970. Colorful Murano millefiori paperweight with a five sided millefiori garland is copied from a Clichy antique paperweight. There is a nice complex bundle of millefiori in the center. The ground is a multi-colored frit ground with aventurine (gold). Size: 3" diameter by 2 3/8" high. The bottom has been ground flat. Circa 1950-1970. The central bundle off center as shown in the picture. Very good condition with some minor scratches near the base. The bottom is ground flat. SOLD Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image
770	Unusual Vintage Murano Scramble Paperweight with White Ground. circa 1880-1930. Colorful Murano scramble paperweight consisting blue, green, and red cog canes over an opaque white ground. This is a very unusual setup and I believe it was made in 19th century or the early part of the 20th century. Although many people collect scramble paperweights for their own merit, scrambles are also valuable tools for learning to identify the different colors and canes used by each factory. Size: Approximately 2 3/8" diameter by 1 3/4" high. The bottom has been ground flat and then ground concave in the center. Circa 1880 - 1930. Very Good condition. There is minor wear on the dome and scratches on the dome plus considerable wear on the base. SOLD. Click on the picture to see a larger image.	Click on the picture to see a larger image

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Revised 12/11/2011