#0075 A signed studio art glass paperweight featuring fumed glass Pink swirls.

Independent studio glass artists and small American glasshouses created pieces like this using specialised hand-torch techniques. They were made from the late twentieth century onward as decorative objects to hold down papers or simply to display the mesmerising optical effects of coloured glass.

People placed these colourful spheres on desks and tabletops in homes and offices to catch the light and add a touch of handcrafted art to their daily surroundings. They were used to prevent loose letters and documents from blowing away in a breeze near open windows. Over time, the growing popularity of studio art glass transformed these functional desk accessories into collectible pieces of sculptural art.