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St. Clair Paperweights for Sale


Most of the paperweights on this page are the work of the St. Clair family of Elwood, Indiana.  In fact, it has been claimed that the St. Clairs made more paperweights than any other single factory.  There are some styles that were made by not only the St. Clairs, but also others including John Degenhart, so it is sometimes difficult to be sure who made a particular item unless it was signed.

Elwood had all the right elements for the glass industry, including energy (natural gas) and abundant supplies of sand.  Many glass workers moved to Elwood to work in one of the five glass factories there.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.

For more information, you can read about the St. Clair family in the book  American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970). For this and other great references on paperweights, check out my list of paperweight books for sale.

There is no shopping cart on this website.  If you would like to purchase any of these paperweights or need more information, please send an email to: aport@paperweights.com
 
6033 Magnum Bob St. Clair Sulphide Dog Paperweight.  circa 1971- 1986.  A wonderful example of a St. Clair dog sulphide paperweight.   The painted brown dog sulphide is placed on a layer of  large shards of colored glass.  The signature "BOB ST. CLAIR" is hot stamped on the base.  A colorful addition to any collection of St. Clair paperweights.

Sulphides Paperweights are those that contain cast objects (animals, flowers, people) made of a ceramic material that has properties similar to the surrounding glass.  They are normally white, but are also sometimes colored or even painted.  The objects are cast in a mold that copied or made directly from a medallion, coin or sculpture.  Often the object is surrounded by a millefiori or lampwork garland, but it may also appear alone.  The finest sulphides are cast in a mold made by a skilled artist.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired for the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Robert St. Clair (1919 - 1986) and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Bob St. Clair died in 1986 and Joe Rice bought his estate including Bob's factory.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

Very large size:  3 3/8" diameter by 3 1/4" high.  The base is ground flat.  It weighs just over 29 ounces.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips or cracks.  No scratches found on inspection.  Some bubbles in the glass.
Signature:  Hot stamped signature on the base "BOB ST. CLAIR". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Hot stamped signature on base
Closeup
Another view
Side view
Another side view
Base
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Bob St. Clair Sulphide Dog Paperweight
5257 Rare Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink Crimp Rose Paperweight with Twenty Petals.  circa 1960-1980.  This is a delicate pink crimp rose with twenty petals plus a center stamen (or pistil).  The petals are arranged in Joe St. Clair's five row 4+4+4+4+4 crimp pattern and placed over a four leaf shaped green ground.  It is signed on a polished flat base with indented letters "JOE ST CLAIR".  This may be engraved or machined rather than hot stamped.   This is a fancier signature than the hot stamped signature that Joe used on most paperweights.  A flashy paperweight with great color and execution.

Crimp roses represent the ultimate challenge for paperweight makers.  You can read about the crimps and their use in making crimp roses in the book American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1970).

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Bob St. Clair died in 1986.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987.  Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother,  Paul St. Clair died in 2000.

Very large size:  Just under 3 1/2” diameter by 3 3/8” high.  The base is polished flat.  It weighs just over two pounds.
Condition:  One tiny (1/16") scuff mark found on the dome.  Otherwise in excellent condition with no other chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Signed on the polished base with indented letters "JOE ST CLAIR".  This may be engraved or machined rather than hot stamped.  It probably dates from the 1960s or 1970s, but may be earlier.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Signature
Closeup
Side view
Another view
Profile
Tiny scuff mark (1/16") on dome
Base
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Rare Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink Crimp Rose Paperweight with Twenty Petals
4009 Joe St. Clair Multicolored Ribbon Crimp Paperweight - Signed.  circa 1941-2000.  Multi-colored stylized crimp flower in the unique St. Clair style.  I refer to this style as a rainbow ribbon crimp weight.  It has has eight pleats or crimps with a carefully placed bubble between each.  A showy paperweight with great color.  Very collectible. 

Similar examples are shown American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970) and the St. Clair Collectors Guide by Bonnie Pruitt. 

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair.

Large Size:  Just over 2 3/4" diameter by 2" high.  The bottom is fire finished and hot stamped with the signature. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Signature on base
Side View
Base
Another View
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Joe St. Clair Multicolored Ribbon Crimp Paperweight - Signed
4031 Large Maude and Bob 1976 Blue Icepick Flower Candle Holder Paperweight.  dated 1976.  This large candle holder paperweight features five light blue icepick flowers over an dark blue ground.  As is typical of the St. Clair style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each flower.  There is a ribbed handle on one side.  It is hot stamped on the base "MAUDE AND BOB ST CLAIR 1976".  Maude and Bob St. Clair produced paperweights under their own label for less than fifteen years.  A great addition to any collection of St. Clair items. 

This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the icepick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem.

Note:  In the pictures, the handle shows a yellow color.  This is a reflection from something in my work area.  The handle of the candle holder is clear colorless glass. 

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Bob St. Clair died in 1986.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987.  Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother,  Paul St. Clair died in 2000.

Robert (Bob) St. Clair was born May 18, 1919 and passed away in 1986.  He is known to have used two signatures from 1971 to 1986.  Most of the time he included his wife and used the stamp "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR", often with a date with raised lettering.  Less frequently, he used the stamp "BOB ST. CLAIR" with no date.  This stamp, with only BOB, can be found with either raised or indented lettering.

Size:  The center paperweight portion is just under 3" diameter.  With the handle and the cup for the candle it is 4 1/16" wide by just under 3" deep by 3 1/16" high.  The base is finished flat and hot stamped in the center with the signature. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped on the base "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR 1976". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Other side
Signature on base
Closeup
Profile
Side away from handle
Base
$85 postage paid in the US.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Maude and Bob 1976 Blue Icepick Flower Candle Holder Paperweight
4039 Joe Rice Magnum Multicolored Ribbon Crimp Paperweight.   circa 1987-2010.  Multi-colored stylized crimp flower in the unique St. Clair style.  I refer to this style as a rainbow ribbon crimp weight.  It has has eight pleats or crimps with a carefully placed bubble between each.  The design is off center in the paperweight.  A showy paperweight with great color.  Very collectible. 

Similar examples are shown American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers by Jean Melvin (1967 and 1970) and the St. Clair Collectors Guide by Bonnie Pruitt.  They were made by members of the St. Clair family and also by Joe Rice.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair.

Joe Rice,a third generation glassblower in the St. Clair family, is the grandson of John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr.  and nephew of a nephew of Joe St. Clair and the other brothers mentioned above.  His mother Jane Rice was Joe St. Clair's sister.  Joe Rice began working at the family glass factory in 1962 at the age of twelve.  He worked with his uncles Joe, Ed, Bob, and Paul after school hours and during the summer months.  When the estate of Bob St. Clair was ready for public auction in October 1987, Joe Rice was able to purchase the property along with needed supplies and equipment.  He reopened the factory as the The House of Glass.  His uncles Ed and Paul were there to help guide him along his path to success.  The House of Glass continues to operate in Elwood, Indiana.

Very large size:  Just under 3 7/8" diameter by 2 3/8" high.  The bottom is fire finished and hot stamped with the signature.  The paperweight weighs 29 ounces. 
Condition:  Excellent condition.  No chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.  The design, however, is off center in the paperweight.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE RICE" on the base. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Profile
Signature on base
Side View
Base
Another View
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Joe Rice Magnum Multicolored Ribbon Crimp Paperweight
5185 Large Joe St. Clair Icepick Flower Teapot Ring Holder Paperweight.  circa 1960 - 1980.  This teapot shaped figural paperweight is intended for use as a ring holder and is a very popular design.  It has five light blue icepick flowers  over a white chipped glass ground.  As is typical of this style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each pair of flowers.  It is hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom.  A very flashy figural paperweight.

This style of flower is called an icepick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem. 

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through the Georg Jensen Shop on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  Sometime later, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  For a while, there were two St. Clair factories, one owned by Joe and the other owned by Bob St. Clair.

Size:  4 7/8" wide by 4" high.  The center paperweight portion is 2 1/2" in diameter. The bottom is finished flat and hot stamped in the center with the signature. 
Condition:  Excellent Condition with no chips or cracks.  No scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE ST. CLAIR" on the bottom.  This probably dates from the 1960s or 1970s, but may be earlier.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup of icepick flowers
Signature on base
Another view
End view
Base
$59 postage paid in the US.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Joe St. Clair Icepick Flower Teapot Ring Holder Paperweight
2111 Rare Miniature Rose Stopper - Possibly St. Clair.  c.1950.  This is a miniature red crimp rose intended to be a perfume stopper or perhaps a lady's gearshift knob.  There are 16 deep red petals and four translucent green leaves.  The paperweight end is faceted with four side facets plus a top facet.  The facets are angled so that the top is slightly smaller than the bottom.  The stem is unfinished.

I don't know who made this miniature crimp rose, but the setup matches one attributed to St. Clair by Melvin in the book American Glass Paperweights and their Makers (revised edition 1970).  If you have that book, check out the sixth color page between pages 48 and 49.  In the middle group of paperweights on that page, there is a pink rose with the same setup (between two star shaped paperweights).  The attribution may be incorrect.

Miniature Size: 1 1/2" diameter by 1 2/3" high.  With the facets the top is slightly rectangular 1 1/8" by 1 1/4".  The paperweight portion just over 3/4" high.
Excellent:  The paperweight has some tiny nicks at the bottom of the facets, but no real problems. 

 $225 Reduced to $150 postage paid in the US.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
4326 Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink and White Icepick Flower Paperweight.  circa 1960-1970.  This very large paperweight features five pink and white ice-pick flowers over a white frit ground.  As is typical of this style, there is a carefully placed bubble in the center of each flower and also a carefully placed bubble in the ground in between each flower.  It is hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom.  A very flashy paperweight.

This style of flower is called an ice-pick flower because of the ice-pick like tool used to push each flower down to the ground to form a stem.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair (1909 - 1987) did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York. Joe retired (the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Bob St. Clair died in 1986.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987.  Ed St. Clair died in 1989 and the last brother,  Paul St. Clair died in 2000.

Very large size:  3 11/16" diameter by 2 9/16" high.  It weighs over 28 ounces and will be over two pounds when packaged.  The base is finished flat and hot stamped in the center with the signature. 
Condition:  Excellent Condition with no chips, cracks, or scratches found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped JOE ST. CLAIR on the base.  This probably dates from the 1960s or 1970s, but may be earlier.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links:

Large picture
Signature on base
Closeup
Side view
Profile
Base
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Joe St. Clair Pink and White Icepick Flower Paperweight
4473 Large Joe St. Clair Multi-Color Ribbon Crimp Turtle Paperweight.  circa 1970-1987.  This is a large Joe St. Clair figural turtle with a multi-colored ribbon crimp flower in the center.  There are eight pleats or crimps with carefully placed bubbles between each.  The turtle has a round shell, four legs, a head, and a tail all of clear glass.  The signature "JOE ST CLAIR" is hot stamped on the base.  A great example.

Note on condition:  This paperweight has a 1/8" flaw shown in the pictures.  This may be an internal fracture or it may just be some striations in the glass.  No other flaws found on inspection.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired for the first time in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987.

Large Size:   The turtle is approximately 7" long by 4" wide by about 1 1/2" high.  The base is hot stamped with the Joe St. Clair hot stamp signature. 
Condition:  Very good to excellent condition with no chips or cracks.  There is one small 1/8" flaw shown in the pictures.  This may be an internal fracture or it may just be some striations in the glass.  No other flaws found on inspection.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom.  This dates from the 1970-1980s.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Top view
Side view
Hot stamped signature on base
Another view
Bottom view
Tiny flaw or fracture
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Joe St. Clair Multi-Color Crimp Turtle Paperweight
4475 Large Joe St. Clair Sulphide Paperweight of Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf.   circa 1970-1987.  This large Joe St. Clair has a painted sulphide of Little Red Riding Hood and her encounter with the Wolf in the woods.  Little Red Riding Hood is carrying a basket of goodies.  There is a green tree in the background.  The sulphide is placed on a pleated transparent green ground.  The signature "JOE ST CLAIR" is hot stamped on the base.  A wonderful example.

Sulphides Paperweights are those that contain cast objects (animals, flowers, people) made of a ceramic material that has properties similar to the surrounding glass.  They are normally white, but are also sometimes colored or even painted.  The objects are cast in a mold that copied or made directly from a medallion, coin or sculpture.  Often the object is surrounded by a millefiori or lampwork garland, but it may also appear alone.  The finest sulphides are cast in a mold made by a skilled artist.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe St. Clair did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired for the first time in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

Large size:   3 1/8" diameter by 2 5/16" high.  The base is fire finished and signed with a Joe St. Clair hot stamp signature. 
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips, chips, or cracks found on inspection.  There are, however, some tiny bits of debris and some small bubbles in the glass.
Signature:  Hot stamped "JOE ST CLAIR" on the bottom.  This dates from the 1970-1980s.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987.

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Profile
Side view
Hot stamped signature on base
Base
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Large Joe St. Clair Sulphide Paperweight of Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
4469 Magnum Maude and Bob St. Clair Sulphide Turtle Paperweight.  dated 1976.  A wonderful example of a St. Clair turtle sulphide paperweight.   The painted turtle is on top of a multi-colored hill of frit or shards of colored glass.  There are six valleys or pleats in the hill, each with a carefully placed bubble at the base.  The signature "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR 1976" is hot stamped on the base.  A colorful addition to any collection of St. Clair paperweights.

Note on the date:  The date on this paperweight might look like 1970, but I've concluded that it is 1976 until told otherwise.  The six is slightly deformed.  Bob and Maude didn't start to build their factory until Joe St. Clair retired the first time in 1971. 

Sulphides Paperweights are those that contain cast objects (animals, flowers, people) made of a ceramic material that has properties similar to the surrounding glass.  They are normally white, but are also sometimes colored or even painted.  The objects are cast in a mold that copied or made directly from a medallion, coin or sculpture.  Often the object is surrounded by a millefiori or lampwork garland, but it may also appear alone.  The finest sulphides are cast in a mold made by a skilled artist.

The St. Clair line (as far as paperweights are concerned) started with John "Pop" St. Clair, Sr. who worked at the George MacBeth Glass Works in Elwood from around 1903 to 1938.  Local natural gas production faltered in 1938 and the St. Clairs began to develop their ideas for a new business of their own.  Joe did the original experimentation and the business was formally started in 1941 in Elwood, Indiana.  John, Sr. and the brothers John, Jr., Joe, Ed and Bob all participated, while another brother, Paul, did not at first.  By 1944 St. Clair paperweights were being sold through Georg Jensen on Fifth Avenue in New York.  Joe retired for the first time) in 1971 and sold the factory to new owners in Elwood, Indiana.  About the same time, Bob St. Clair and his wife Maude opened a new factory in Elwood.  Paul St. Clair retired from General Motors and joined Bob, along with Ed St. Clair and a nephew, Joe Rice.  Sometime later after Bob opened his factory, the new owners of the original factory sold the factory back to Joe.  So, for a while, there were two St. Clair Glass factories.  Joe St. Clair died in 1987. 

Very large size:  Just over 3 1/2" diameter by 3 1/16" high.  The base is ground flat.  It weighs 30 ounces.
Condition:  Excellent condition with no chips or cracks.  No scratches found on inspection. 
Signature:  Hot stamped signature on the base "MAUDE AND BOB ST. CLAIR 1976". 

For extra pictures, click on the picture at the right and the following links: 

Large picture
Closeup
Top view
Another closeup
Third closeup of turtle
Another view
Back of the turtle
Hot stamped signature on base
Another view of the signature
Base
SOLD.

Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Click on the picture to see a larger image
Magnum Maude and Bob St. Clair Sulphide Turtle Paperweight

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Revised 1/3/2024    ei9