The Heart of Nature in Paperweights

The heart of nature within paperweights describes the dreams of Paul J. Stankard and his talent , causing him to be described, by many, as the greatest and most imaginative paperweight maker of all time.

Before Stankard, paperweight makers didn't even pretend to try to create botanically authentic designs. Stankard's goal was to make his designs look as natural as possible. His efforts achieved great success and became known for being natural and botanically authentic. His work began to be recognized and so respected in the glass community that a president was set and other paperweight makers followed his examples. The more Stankard was able to expand his designs to, not only flowers, but, overtime, he added fruits, nuts, leaves and honeybees that were just as lifelike.

There are many types of paperweights available--blank, clear glass, globe, heart, lazer, photo,and pyramid paperweights, just to name a few. Could you have ever imagined there were so many kinds of paperweights?

Stankard has enjoyed having his work displayed at some of the most prestigious museums including the GlasMuseum of Art in Denmark, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

He began his work with glass as a glassblower making scientific instruments. This was only a stepping stone for Stanakrd as he had always wanted to work with glass in an artistic way. In his spare time he played with the glass and experimented with making flowers. By 1969 he was making paperweights.

After much trial and error, to get just the special look he wanted, he learned to persevere.

His first glass items, showing his creative side, were animals--rabbits, elephants and others-- which sold in gift shops for 35 cents each.

Stankard began creating more expensive paperweights in the late 1960s. With the more expensive paperweights came increased abilities and skills and gave him great satisfaction.