As those of you familiar with Pairpoint’s Fine Arts Line already know, you don’t need reference books to identify these desirable beauties. Not only did Pairpoint sign each item (“Diamond P” or spelled-out), they also included their catalog number.
For those not familiar with the Fine Arts Line, we encourage you to read our online book which can be accessed through the Download Center on this website. Basically this is the product line that combines Pairpoint’s finest glassware with beautiful silver-plated sculptured metal mountings.
From a collector’s point-of-view, especially a novice or intermediate collector, there is little better than discovering an item that self-identifies. But, therein lies the hidden risk and false sense of security, and to the uninitiated, possibly a very costly mistake. Unlike almost any other collectible, caution must be directed to the opposite of the normal…validation supersedes identification. The critical question becomes, “Is the item in question original and complete as it presents?”
Also within our Download Center are almost 350 original Pairpoint Fine Arts Line catalog pages as well as considerable database information. Anyone thinking of purchasing ANY item from the Fine Arts Line should avail themselves of the research information on this site. By cross-referencing the catalog number found on the item with the appropriate catalog page, the collector can see exactly what the item is supposed to look like. Our experience with Fine Arts Line items has shown a frighteningly high incidence of marriages or missing elements. Caveat Emptor!
Now, with all of this warning, there is a positive side to validation…Great Buys are out there for those who have done nothing more than validate the item. We’d like to cite a very recent example of an item that looked incorrect but was actually OK; it’s very unusual to have right and wrong on the same item, but validation resolved the issue. Needless to say we made a very good buy.
For those not familiar with the Fine Arts Line, we encourage you to read our online book which can be accessed through the Download Center on this website. Basically this is the product line that combines Pairpoint’s finest glassware with beautiful silver-plated sculptured metal mountings.
From a collector’s point-of-view, especially a novice or intermediate collector, there is little better than discovering an item that self-identifies. But, therein lies the hidden risk and false sense of security, and to the uninitiated, possibly a very costly mistake. Unlike almost any other collectible, caution must be directed to the opposite of the normal…validation supersedes identification. The critical question becomes, “Is the item in question original and complete as it presents?”
Also within our Download Center are almost 350 original Pairpoint Fine Arts Line catalog pages as well as considerable database information. Anyone thinking of purchasing ANY item from the Fine Arts Line should avail themselves of the research information on this site. By cross-referencing the catalog number found on the item with the appropriate catalog page, the collector can see exactly what the item is supposed to look like. Our experience with Fine Arts Line items has shown a frighteningly high incidence of marriages or missing elements. Caveat Emptor!
Now, with all of this warning, there is a positive side to validation…Great Buys are out there for those who have done nothing more than validate the item. We’d like to cite a very recent example of an item that looked incorrect but was actually OK; it’s very unusual to have right and wrong on the same item, but validation resolved the issue. Needless to say we made a very good buy.
1.) This first photo shows a pair of Pairpoint D6157 Art Deco candlesticks combining a bubble ball, a silver-plated candle cup, and green marblette mounts. This was the eBay image as offered, and could be considered correct to an untrained eye. However, the flat-ground surface at the top of the glass ball raised a validation concern.
2.) This second photo is a cropped portion of Catalog Page 165, from our Download Center. This shows that the above eBay items offered for sale are missing their marblette bobeches. What a shame!
But wait…look closely at the catalog image (below) and the item being sold (above); notice the circular disc sitting directly on top of the square base on the eBay item, and notice its absence in the catalog image. You have found the missing bobeches which could have been (unluckily) missing entirely.
This candle was shown in the catalog as being part of a Console Set made up of a pair of candlesticks and a matching centerpiece bowl. The bowl portion had a shallow configuration and was EPNS (electro-plated nickel silver).
But wait…look closely at the catalog image (below) and the item being sold (above); notice the circular disc sitting directly on top of the square base on the eBay item, and notice its absence in the catalog image. You have found the missing bobeches which could have been (unluckily) missing entirely.
This candle was shown in the catalog as being part of a Console Set made up of a pair of candlesticks and a matching centerpiece bowl. The bowl portion had a shallow configuration and was EPNS (electro-plated nickel silver).
3.) The final photo shows the Pairpoint Fine Arts Line “1-Light Candle” as it was intended to be:
In closing, Sandy and I cannot stress enough the importance of a little due-diligence before you risk your money to make that great buy when building your Fine Arts Line collection.
Sandy and Marion Frost
The Frost Collection
2017.06.18
Sandy and Marion Frost
The Frost Collection
2017.06.18
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