Paperweight literally translates to "push the paper." This is an object with which the papers are pressed down on the table so that they do not scatter and crumble. In the modern world, paperweights are not relevant. A hundred years ago, in the era of fountain pens, it was an irreplaceable thing.
Description and purpose of paperweight
Paperweight is spelled correctly with a hyphen, however, sometimes there is a separate spelling - paperweight. This is not an acceptable norm for the Russian language. The paperweight has been used for centuries to press freshly written documents on the table. The ink should dry well, not smudge or blur. For this, the paper with the text had to lie down for some time in the open air unfolded. Draft, accidental movement could drop and damage the document. To prevent this from happening, on each desk there was a heavy figurine made of marble, glass or stone, which fixed the papers by simply pressing them against the table.
The most expensive modern paperweight was created by the British. Tateossian introduced the paperweight in the form of a large pebble with a small indentation, decorated with gold and diamond dust weighing 60 carats.
Depending on the status and wealth of the owner, the paperweights were both simple, modest, and reminiscent of works of art. Elegant figurines made of expensive stone or precious metals adorned the tables of noble, wealthy people. These were not just office supplies. An elaborate paperweight adorned the desk and the entire study. This item was sold separately or as a set with an inkwell, quill and paper knife.
Paperweight history
The history of paperweights goes back to the days of the invention of ink. Before the advent of blotting paper, paperweights were supplemented with a sandbox. The text was sprinkled with fine sand to absorb excess ink and speed up the drying of the document. In the 19th - early 20th century.
Spanish designers from Mesko diseno studio created paperweights in the form of buildings. They are stripped from marble bricks. These figurines are an exact copy of ancient and medieval buildings. Their cost is hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A blotter appeared and the paperweight changed its appearance. The function of the bench press has expanded. It began to be made in the form of a crescent moon with a handle and blotting paper attached to it. The base for the paper was made of wood, while the upper part remained a space for the craftsmen to create. She was adorned with metal, precious stones, figurines. It was more practical to use such an item, since it pressed the documents and removed the excess ink, speeding up their drying.
In the days of general recycling, paperweights were no longer a work of art. Stationery masterpieces have given way to simple, practical things.
With the advent of the ballpoint pen, paperweight ceased to be a necessity and soon became a common decoration of the writing desk. In the modern world, it is a collectible. There are over two hundred thousand collectible paperweights in the world. They are equated to objects of art.