#0074 An iridescent studio art glass paperweight with pulled white feather decoration.

Independent studio glass artists across North America and Europe crafted pieces like this by hand in private workshops. These decorative objects were made during the late twentieth century as functional art pieces and desk accessories for home display. Makers achieved the glowing surface effects by spraying metallic salts onto the hot glass while it was still on the blowpipe, producing a rainbow sheen.

People placed these heavy glass spheres on wooden desks to hold down loose papers in studies and offices. They were also displayed on bookshelves and mantelpieces simply to catch and reflect the light in a room. Over time, the popularity of studio art glass shifted, and while many collectors still prize unique handmade pieces, production methods became widely copied by commercial giftware manufacturers.