Whitall Tatum Company

The Whitall Tatum Company was founded in 1806 in Millville, New Jersey. After several name changes and the establishment of a second site, the business was known as Whitall Tatum. The two factory sites made bottles and window glass. By 1880, the firm was so successful that it had sales offices in Brazil and Australia. Between 1880 and 1910, workers on their own time made paperweights. Considered the first truly American style weights, the designs were created by utilizing tools in the bottle shops. Frit weights were made with dies filled with powdered glass. The Millville Rose paperweights were the most difficult to fashion. Ralph Barber, Emil Stanger, John Ruhlander and John Fath were some of the glassblowers credited with making these paperweights. When the factory became automated around 1910, paperweight production ceased because the men no longer had access to the glass.

Union Glass Company

The Union Glass Company of Somerville, Massachusetts was established in 1854. Early production items were lighting devices and blown and pressed glass. During the early 1900s, the Union firm manufactured Art Nouveau style glass called “Kew Blas.” The company also made heavy glass blanks for cutting. Union became one of the largest producers of cut glass blanks in America. Between 1910 and 1920, glass workers at Union made paperweights on their own time. These large weights are recognized by their flowers and white lettering. Glassblowers Philip Bunamo and Emil Avinwell are credited with making the majority of these paperweights.

Studio Glass

During the 1970s, several small glass studios opened to create Art Nouveau style glassware. The Vandermark Merritt Glass Studios of Flemington, New Jersey; Orient and Flume Art Glass of Chico, California; and Lundberg Studios of Davenport, California are three of the most successful of these studios. In addition to blown Art Nouveau decorated glass, paperweights were created. At Vandermark, Barry Sautner mastered the technique of sandblasting and developed his own style of cameo cutting. All three of these glass studios are still operating today.

Libbey Glass Company

The Libbey Glass Company was founded as the New England Glass Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1818. In 1888, the factory moved to Toledo, Ohio and was renamed the Libbey Glass Company. The first major contract for the new factory was a for hand blown light bulbs for Edison General Electric. The firm also produced cut glass and decorative art glass. Libbey was purchased by Owens Illinois in 1935 and became a wholly owned subsidiary. Workers were allowed to make paperweights on their own time. One of those employees was Alex Stelzer, a Czechoslovakian immigrant. His weights are recognized by the striped flowers.

Gillinder and Sons

English immigrant William T. Gillinder, established a glass factory in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1861. The factory produced lighting devices, blown glass, pressed glass, silvered glass and bottles. Between 1861 and 1871, William created a series of millefiori paperweights as gifts for family and friends. After William died, his sons continued the operation. At the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the sons built an exhibition factory on the grounds of the fair. It was one of the most popular exhibits. Many pressed souvenirs, including paperweights, were available for sale. The Gillinder firm was known for its high quality glass. The Philadelphia operation closed in 1930.

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