More Sandwich Glass Company 4
| Sandwich also took up the Potichomania craze, which was fostered Godey's Lady's book in 1855. This consisted of applying pictures or decalcomania transfers to the interior of bottle-green glass balls and paperweights, a proceeding requiring some degree of skill. Before placing the picture on the glass, a thin coating of gum arabic was applied. Then, when the picture had been placed in position, a coat of varnish was laid over all and the ball was lined with paint Witch balls, made in somewhat the same fashion, were usually left hollow. These were covered with a thin plaster-like substance, and, when finished, had a small opening in the base.
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The Sandwich Company used no marks whatsoever to identify their products. It is entirely possible that much of the glass which has been attributed to them actually came from other glass works in New England, Ohio, or Pittsburgh-or perhaps even from England. They seldom advertised, and many of their wares were distributed by peddlers going about the country. Such peddlers usually carried one or two weights in their wagons with other articles.
The collecting of fine paperweights has gone on ever since the days in which they were produced. It is understood that a collector in Boston at one time owned more than 100 millefiori weights. On account of the large amount of hand work required, a good millefiori weight was never cheap. Its cost, even from the beginning, ranged from $5.00 upward. Workmen received $14.00 to $17.00 a week in wages, and a good deal of time was required to produce a weight of fine quality.
It has been estimated that products worth $30,000,000.00 were sold by the Sandwich factory during the long period of its operation-no mean total considering the industrial and commercial development of the era in which this enterprise carried on its operations.
The collecting of fine paperweights has gone on ever since the days in which they were produced. It is understood that a collector in Boston at one time owned more than 100 millefiori weights. On account of the large amount of hand work required, a good millefiori weight was never cheap. Its cost, even from the beginning, ranged from $5.00 upward. Workmen received $14.00 to $17.00 a week in wages, and a good deal of time was required to produce a weight of fine quality.
It has been estimated that products worth $30,000,000.00 were sold by the Sandwich factory during the long period of its operation-no mean total considering the industrial and commercial development of the era in which this enterprise carried on its operations.
