Name/Title
PaperweightEntry/Object ID
I2018.004.001.035Description
Round glass paperweight with abundant small flowers in white, yellow, green, blue, and red, all with red, blue or white centers.Use
Originally used to hold down papers, but later a collection item.Context
Josephine A. Meneely
New York and Ferrisburgh
1867-1948
Donor of paperweights
Josephine A. Meneely grew up on a farm in Troy, New York, and married William R. Meneely, also of Troy, in 1888. William came from a family of bell makers and became president of the company his father, Clinton, had founded in competition with two brothers.
Josephine and William lived comfortably and were listed as having a live-in maid in several census documents. They sailed to Europe several times and eventually had a residence in Ferrisburgh as well as in Manhattan. They had no children.
In 1951 after both Josephine and William had died, her collections of 51 glass paperweights and 101cup plates were donated to the Bixby Memorial Free Library. A newspaper article announcing the gift noted, “Mrs. Meneely’s paperweights were bought with discrimination and after wide search for good specimens.”
Glass paperweights
Glass paperweights are one of the more challenging glass arts to make, according to Art Elder, director of the Glass Paperweight Foundation.
They were first made in Europe in 1845 at a time when paper had become less expensive and writing letters was popular. They were sold as an affordable and attractive accessory to pens, inkwells, blotters and fine stationary. The paperweight fad was short-lived in Europe, falling sharply by 1860, but American glassmakers got into the business in 1851 and produced paperweights for the next thirty years. After 1890, Elder says few quality glass paperweights were made until the 1950s when the technique and interest revived.
Most people didn’t use their glass paperweights to hold down paper — they were too pretty. They became collectors’ items shortly after they stopped being produced.
The origins of the weights in this collection is unknown, but some might have come from Europe since Josephine Meneely traveled there by ship on several occasions.Collection
Josephine A. Meneely CollectionCataloged By
Patricia ReidAcquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
Josephine A. MeneelyNotes
Acquisition Method: Gift
Current Status: Gift
Location of Gift Paperwork: a framed photo of Josephine A. Menelly idenitifies her as "donor of cup plate and paper-weight collections."
Contact Information: Josephine A. MenellyMade/Created
Time Period
early to mid 19th centuryOther Names and Numbers
Other Number
Photo Number: I2018.004.001.001-051_planNotes
Digital Photo Location: New Photos > 2019-03-15Dimensions
Dimension Description
3" diameterHeight
1-1/4 inLocation
Location
* Untyped Location
On exhibitDate
December 7, 2023Created By
Nancy RemsenCreate Date
December 7, 2023Updated By
Patricia ReidUpdate Date
March 30, 2024