European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                _ l paper we bargains on seconds exclusive limited editions available at outlet by Carol a. Barton silvers  Glass Mounds round or slightly Oblong sit upon their  pedestals in the gift Section of military exchanges or in Glass armoured cases at gift shops. Their blown and etched cousins shimmer beneath carefully placed lights catching the Eye with a Rainbow burst. Caithness class Ltd. Makes some of the finest Crystal tableware etched vases bowls and Atware and of course paperweights found anywhere in the world. I saw my first Caithness paperweight in a Magazine when i was in College. The swirl of greens All the shades of Ireland proclaimed the advertisement aroused a terrible hunger for Possession. Unfortunately the Price a modest $75 or so Lay Well beyond the reach of a student on a work study program. It was t until 1990 that i got my first Caithness Cinderella As a gift from my husband. By 1993, i d managed to accumulate j1 paperweights of which six Are limited editions. About half the collection came from my visit to the Caithness class facility at Perth. Caithness has four factories three in Scotland and one in England. The Wick and Oban facilities make paperweights and Atware White the Perth facility specializes in paperweights. The fourth at King s Lynn in Norfolk produces Crystal Ware. Each facility offers visitors a Chance to watch the Glass makers at work browse through the factory shop and enjoy a meal in the restaurant. At King s Lynn during the week visitors can listen to a talk about Crystal making. King s Lynn also has a Large interesting display of tools and holds. The factory shops offer a reasonably Complete Range of Caithness goods. While Many items Are seconds you can also Purchase limited edition pieces at prices significantly lower than what you will find at your local shop. This is where i picked up three of my limited edition pieces. At King s Lynn you can have an engraver customize your Crystal Ware. I prices Range from 250-1,500 pounds about $380 $2,280 for the Sll Dio collection a limited edition Atware  125 pounds about $190 for Spring Romance a limited edition Altglass collection. Engraved bowls and vases vary Between 9.50 pounds and 150 pounds $14.50-$228 for a limited edition bowl. Paperweights my particular Delight Range from 19.95 39.95 pounds $30-$60 for unlimited edition full size paperweights to 9.95-49.95 pounds $15-$75 for unlimited edition medium and miniature paperweights. Two of the paperweights manufactured by Caithness ribbons above and Pink Champagne below. Both Are unlimited editions. In 1993 limited edition paperweights will set you Back 39.93-200 pounds $60-$304according to the Caithness 1993 retail Price guide naturally you must display your collection to advantage so Caithness offers a Light Box display for 10.50 pounds about $16. We re planning to build our own. Lighting and Angle do make a difference for displaying paperweights. An unlimited edition paperweight selectively lit is every bit As attractive As a More expensive limited edition. When you go shopping for a paperweight imagine How it is going to look lit up. Look at the paperweight from All angles top and Bottom. If you frequent a particular merchant you should be Able to use a Small flashlight to discover a Range of viewing delights masked by the White Light of Day. In 1982 Caithness introduced a system for identifying their unlimited edition pieces. If you look on the Bottom you will see a letter followed by a number. Caithness assigned the letter a to 1983, the first year the system was put into place letters and years follow in sequence until 1991. To avoid any confusion Between the letter i and the number "1," Caithness skipped it and assigned the letter " to 1991. All Caithness unlimited edition paperweights in 1993 Bear the letter  the number identifies the production sequence for example a Moon Flower paperweight identified As g/156 Means that the paperweight was the 156th unlimited paperweight made by Caithness not the 156th. Moo Flower made. Take the time for a factory tour or to stand and watch the workers in the Glasshouse. Along the Wall Between the windows into the Glasshouse Are explanations of the process. Watching the craftsmen and women at work gave me a deeper appreciation for the skill and care which go into fabricating a paperweight. The craftsmen pay the same amount of attention to an unlimited edition paperweight As they do to the limited edition ones. Watching them at work i noticed that All the Glass was Clear. How did they know which color was which apparently the colors appear As the Glass cools in the Lehr a special oven which brings the temperature of the Glass Down slowly so that the glassware does t shatter the craftsmen use powered metallic oxides to add colors As Well As coloured Glass for the patterns swirls and stripes you will find in your paperweight. A paperweight is built up in layers. Depending on the design a craftsman May Complete Between 14 and 30 distinct Steps before the paperweight is finished. Faceting. And etching techniques enhance the appearance of some designs. Caithness class Ltd. Was formed in Wick in 1960 to provide jobs for residents of Caithness yes Caithness is a real place where it produced hand blown glassware. In 1968 they expanded their Range to include engraving. Today Caithness is the single largest employer of engravers in great Britain. In 1968, they succeeded in winning a Royal warrant from her majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. This allows the company to display the Royal coat of arms and the by appointment to her majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother class makers " notice the ultimate endorsement of Quality and Good taste. In 1969 Caithness began making paperweights with an emphasis on abstract designs. The paperweight represented an affordable Way for Many people to own artistically pleasing High Quality Glass products. Caithness collectors can now be found across the Globe from Austria to Australia to America Carol a. Barton Siv fit a for Lanc Wintar living in Arizona. 8 so Ripe Magazine november 18, 1993