Carl Kraft Paperweight Gallery

BIOGRAPHY OF CARL KRAFT: Carl Kraft is a little known glass artist, whose paperweights are rather limited, of high quality, and a real find for collectors! He was a third generation glassblower; both his grandfather (in Sweden) and his father (in California) worked with glass their entire lives. At the age of five, Carl began to learn about glass from his father at his studio (the Kraft Glass Studio) in Bell Gardens, CA and eventually took over the studio from his father. In California, Carl primarily made high quality stemware that was sold throughout the country. In the late 1950s, the studio closed and he moved east and eventually settled in the Toledo, OH area where he was employed at the Owens-Illinois Technical Center of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. There he worked essentially as an experienced glass technician, developing glass formulas for different uses. At that time, he became friends with other glassblowers in the area, including Joe St.Clair and Dominik Labino among others, and he began to do more creative glasswork at his small home studio. In the mid-1970s he suffered a heart attack and had to retire from Owens-Illinois Glass, but a few years later he opened a small shop in Toledo, called the "Glass Apple", where he sold mainly his own handblown glass paperweights, vases, and some decorative stemware pieces. Carl Kraft loved glass and this is apparent in the quality of his work. He continued to work in his glass studio until his death in 1995 and according to his daughter (who now lives in Ocala, FL and from whom this information was obtained), glassblowing was his true love throughout his life; she feels this helped extend his life many years after he first became ill. All the Kraft paperweights we have for sale came from his estate.

The paperweights in this gallery represents the various types of pieces Carl Kraft made through out his life and many are really historical pieces. They all came from his own collection and according to his family, many are one-of-a-kind pieces. Please visit our other Kraft Art Glass Gallery to view his other works.

Carl Kraft 1975: Footed crimped rose paperweight. The range/red and white rose has 15 petals and rests on three green leaves. A beautiful and well-executed large crimped rose pedestal paperweight that is signed ("Kraft '75") on its polished base. Diameter: ~3╝"; height: ~3╜". SOLD. (#J077)

Carl Kraft 1976:Crimped crocus faceted paperweight. A delicate crimped crocus paperweight with 5+1 faceting. The crocus, done in various shades of pink, rests on three green leaves. It displays a tripartite symmetry with its 3 stamens, 3 rows of inner petals and 3 rows of outer petals. Signed ("Kraft С76") on its polished base. Height: ~2╝"; diameter: ~2╛". SOLD. (#J083)

Carl Kraft 1978: Crimped crocus faceted paperweight. A crimped crocus paperweight with 5+1 faceting. The orange crocus rests on three green leaves and displays a tripartite symmetry; it has 3 stamens, 3 rows of inner petals and 3 rows of outer petals. Signed ("Kraft С78") on its polished base. Height:~2╝"; diameter: ~2╜". SOLD. (#J085)

Carl Kraft 1970: Horse sulphide paperweight. A white sulphide horse rests on a cobalt ground in this attractive footed and faceted paperweight. The paperweight has 6+1 faceting , its diameter is ~2╛" and is signed ("Kraft '70") on its polished base. Note that in the combination picture, the right picture was taken to reveal the faceting. SOLD. (#J079)

Carl Kraft 1971: Dove sulphide paperweight. A white sulphide dove rests on a bright orange plaque that is incased in crisp clear glass. Because of the elaborate faceting, it is hard to get a good photograph! Signed ("Kraft '71") on its footed base. Diameter: ~2". SOLD. (#J088)

Carl Kraft 1973: Owl sulphide paperweight. This black and white owl with big yellow eyes rests on a bright cobalt and yellow swirled base and is signed ("Kraft '73") on its polished base. Diameter: ~3╝". SOLD. (#J078)

Carl Kraft 1975: Faceted floral paperweight. Attractive floral paperweight with a single top facet and 5 side windows. The 5-petaled lampwork flower overlies abstract green leaves that are encircled by 5 controlled bubbles. Diameter: ~3 inches. Signed: ("Kraft С75"). This is one of very few lampwork paperweights that he made. (Note: in the the top right petal, the outer white band "bleeds" into the blue band next to it). $145. (#ZL643)

Carl Kraft 1975: Flat millefiori paperweight. Flat glass paperweight with a well-centered medallion of a hard-to-describe pattern of millefiori canes. Three diamond shaped clusters of canes surround a single central cane. This paperweight has both a pressed pontil signature ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio") and is signed on its base ("Kraft С75"). Height: 1╝"; diameter: 3╜". $115. (#ZL629)

Carl Kraft 1975: Faceted millefiori paperweight. A faceted paperweight with 6+1 faceting and an interesting arrangement of rust-colored millefiori canes surrounding a central plaque of larger canes, done in yellow, black, rust and white. Diameter: ~2╛"; height: 1╛". Signed: ("Kraft С75"). $125. (#J098)

Carl Kraft 1966: Early pedestal paperweight. This attractive orange pedestal paperweight is one of Carl Kraft's early paperweights and is the earliest in this collection from his estate. Signed ("Kraft С66") on base. Diameter of globe: 2". SOLD. (#J089)

Carl Kraft 1971: Early flower paperweight. A hard-to-describe paperweight with 4 large flowers, each with a centrally placed large bubble. The outer layer of petals in each flower has blue and white petals and the petals in the inner layer are multi-colored (red, yellow, white and blue). Signed ("Kraft С71") near base. Height: ~3╜". SOLD. (#J094)

Carl Kraft 1972: Patriotic floral paperweight. Red white and blue paperweight with 3 red trumpet flowers, each with a single large controlled bubble within. It also has evenly spaced bubbles between each flower. The combination picture of the paperweight below shows both a side-view (left) and a top-view (right). Signed ("Kraft '72"). Diameter: ~3 ╝". SOLD. (ZL638)

Carl Kraft 1975: Miniature apple paperweight. Glass apple paperweight with internal swirls of blue, orange and white. Signed ("Kraft СС75"). Height: ~2╜". SOLD. (#ZL615)

Carl Kraft 1975: Apple paperweight. Ribbed apple paperweight with a core of yellow glass. Signed ("Kraft С75") on its polished base. Height: ~4". SOLD. (#J091)

Carl Kraft 1975: Apple paperweight. Bright red apple paperweight with applied leaves and an interesting zig-zag patterned surface. Signed ("Kraft С75") on its polished base. Height is ~4". SOLD. (#J090)

Carl Kraft 1974: Floral faceted paperweight. Delicate pedestal paperweight with several elongate blue flowers and green leaves and 4+1 faceting. Signed ("Kraft '74") on base. The polished pontil is not completely smooth. Height: 2╛". SOLD. (#ZL639)

Carl Kraft 1975: Highly faceted paperweight. Attractive paperweight with 3 rows of 7 facets each around the paperweight in addition to a top and bottom facet. In the combination picture, the image on the left is a side-view and on the right is a top-view. Height: 3╝". Signed ("Kraft С75"). SOLD. (#ZL624)

Carl Kraft 1976: Highly faceted mini-paperweight. Unusual and highly faceted small paperweight with 5 facets on top and 5 larger ones on the sides. Center of the paperweight is filled with tighly packed multi-colored canes, which I have tried to capture in the pictures. Signed ("Kraft '76"). Height: ~2". SOLD. (#ZL625)

Carl Kraft 1975: Bicentennial commemorative paperweight (artist's proof). An attractive multi- faceted glass paperweight made in commemoration of the 1976 Bicentennial. The central white plaque, depicting the Liberty Bell and the dates 1776 and 1976, rests on a translucent dark pink/red base that is decorated with white droplets and 2 evenly spaced rows of controlled bubbles. In the second picture one can better see that the single top facet is surrounded by 2 rows of facets, each with 10 facets. The base has a pressed pontil signature ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio") and is also signed ("Kraft С75"). This is obviously an artist's proof since it is marked "sample". I have no idea how many of these were subsequently made. Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#J081)

Carl Kraft: Bicentennial commemorative paperweight. Another attractive multi- faceted glass paperweight made in commemoration of the 1976 Bicentennial. A central white plaque, which depicts the Liberty Bell and the dates 1776 and 1976, rests on an opaque ruby and white mottled base that has a row of evenly spaced controlled bubbles. A single top facet is surrounded by 2 rows of facets (10 facets in each). The base has a clear pontil stamp in the shape of an apple ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio"). It is also signed ("Kraft #179"). This was obviously made in a limited edition, but I do not know how many of these were ever produced. Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#J082)

Carl Kraft commemorative paperweight. Commemorative paperweight made by glass artist Carl Kraft for his 25th wedding anniversary. The base of this one-of-a-kind paperweight has a clear pontil stamp that is an apple with the words: "by Kraft Toledo Ohio". The paperweight is also artist signed and dated ("Kraft '72). Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#ZL667)

Carl Kraft: "The Glass Apple" commemorative paperweight. Commemorative paperweight made by Carl Kraft in 1972 for the opening of his shop: "The Glass Apple", in Toledo, Ohio. The white commemorative plaque overlies a turquoise base with aventurine and also a peripheral row of controlled bubbles. The base has a clear pontil stamp that is an apple with the words: "by Kraft Toledo Ohio". The paperweight is also artist signed and dated ("Kraft '72). Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#ZL665)

Carl Kraft 1975: paperweight pen holder. An interesting shaped paperweight pen (or pencil) holder, that also could be used for flowers! Heavy clear glass piece with 3 large red and white flowers encircled by controlled bubbles at their base. Height: 4". The first picture is a side-view and the next is a top-view. It is very similar in style to pieces made by Joe St. Clair and others at that time. Signed and dated on base with both a pontil stamp ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio") and signature ("Kraft '75"). SOLD. (#J093)

Carl Kraft 1975: paperweight note holder. Early piece by Carl Kraft, made while he worked at the Owens Illinois Technical Center. Signed: Carl Kraft, Toledo, Ohio; O.I. Tech Center, 1966. Paperweight base has a diameter of 3╝"; spindle height is 3╜". SOLD. (#J012)

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	Carl Kraft 1975: Footed crimped rose paperweight. The range/red and white rose has 15 petals and rests on three green leaves. A beautiful and well-executed large crimped rose pedestal paperweight that is signed ("Kraft '75") on its polished base. Diameter: ~3╝"; height: ~3╜". SOLD. (#J077)
	Carl Kraft 1976:Crimped crocus faceted paperweight. A delicate crimped crocus paperweight with 5+1 faceting. The crocus, done in various shades of pink, rests on three green leaves. It displays a tripartite symmetry with its 3 stamens, 3 rows of inner petals and 3 rows of outer petals. Signed ("Kraft С76") on its polished base. Height: ~2╝"; diameter: ~2╛". SOLD. (#J083)
	Carl Kraft 1978: Crimped crocus faceted paperweight. A crimped crocus paperweight with 5+1 faceting. The orange crocus rests on three green leaves and displays a tripartite symmetry; it has 3 stamens, 3 rows of inner petals and 3 rows of outer petals. Signed ("Kraft С78") on its polished base. Height:~2╝"; diameter: ~2╜". SOLD. (#J085)
	Carl Kraft 1970: Horse sulphide paperweight. A white sulphide horse rests on a cobalt ground in this attractive footed and faceted paperweight. The paperweight has 6+1 faceting , its diameter is ~2╛" and is signed ("Kraft '70") on its polished base. Note that in the combination picture, the right picture was taken to reveal the faceting. SOLD. (#J079)
	Carl Kraft 1971: Dove sulphide paperweight. A white sulphide dove rests on a bright orange plaque that is incased in crisp clear glass. Because of the elaborate faceting, it is hard to get a good photograph! Signed ("Kraft '71") on its footed base. Diameter: ~2". SOLD. (#J088)
	Carl Kraft 1973: Owl sulphide paperweight. This black and white owl with big yellow eyes rests on a bright cobalt and yellow swirled base and is signed ("Kraft '73") on its polished base. Diameter: ~3╝". SOLD. (#J078)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Faceted floral paperweight. Attractive floral paperweight with a single top facet and 5 side windows. The 5-petaled lampwork flower overlies abstract green leaves that are encircled by 5 controlled bubbles. Diameter: ~3 inches. Signed: ("Kraft С75"). This is one of very few lampwork paperweights that he made. (Note: in the the top right petal, the outer white band "bleeds" into the blue band next to it). $145. (#ZL643)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Flat millefiori paperweight. Flat glass paperweight with a well-centered medallion of a hard-to-describe pattern of millefiori canes. Three diamond shaped clusters of canes surround a single central cane. This paperweight has both a pressed pontil signature ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio") and is signed on its base ("Kraft С75"). Height: 1╝"; diameter: 3╜". $115. (#ZL629)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Faceted millefiori paperweight. A faceted paperweight with 6+1 faceting and an interesting arrangement of rust-colored millefiori canes surrounding a central plaque of larger canes, done in yellow, black, rust and white. Diameter: ~2╛"; height: 1╛". Signed: ("Kraft С75"). $125. (#J098)
	Carl Kraft 1966: Early pedestal paperweight. This attractive orange pedestal paperweight is one of Carl Kraft's early paperweights and is the earliest in this collection from his estate. Signed ("Kraft С66") on base. Diameter of globe: 2". SOLD. (#J089)
	Carl Kraft 1971: Early flower paperweight. A hard-to-describe paperweight with 4 large flowers, each with a centrally placed large bubble. The outer layer of petals in each flower has blue and white petals and the petals in the inner layer are multi-colored (red, yellow, white and blue). Signed ("Kraft С71") near base. Height: ~3╜". SOLD. (#J094)
	Carl Kraft 1972: Patriotic floral paperweight. Red white and blue paperweight with 3 red trumpet flowers, each with a single large controlled bubble within. It also has evenly spaced bubbles between each flower. The combination picture of the paperweight below shows both a side-view (left) and a top-view (right). Signed ("Kraft '72"). Diameter: ~3 ╝". SOLD. (ZL638)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Miniature apple paperweight. Glass apple paperweight with internal swirls of blue, orange and white. Signed ("Kraft СС75"). Height: ~2╜". SOLD. (#ZL615)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Apple paperweight. Ribbed apple paperweight with a core of yellow glass. Signed ("Kraft С75") on its polished base. Height: ~4". SOLD. (#J091)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Apple paperweight. Bright red apple paperweight with applied leaves and an interesting zig-zag patterned surface. Signed ("Kraft С75") on its polished base. Height is ~4". SOLD. (#J090)
	Carl Kraft 1974: Floral faceted paperweight. Delicate pedestal paperweight with several elongate blue flowers and green leaves and 4+1 faceting. Signed ("Kraft '74") on base. The polished pontil is not completely smooth. Height: 2╛". SOLD. (#ZL639)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Highly faceted paperweight. Attractive paperweight with 3 rows of 7 facets each around the paperweight in addition to a top and bottom facet. In the combination picture, the image on the left is a side-view and on the right is a top-view. Height: 3╝". Signed ("Kraft С75"). SOLD. (#ZL624)
	Carl Kraft 1976: Highly faceted mini-paperweight. Unusual and highly faceted small paperweight with 5 facets on top and 5 larger ones on the sides. Center of the paperweight is filled with tighly packed multi-colored canes, which I have tried to capture in the pictures. Signed ("Kraft '76"). Height: ~2". SOLD. (#ZL625)
	Carl Kraft 1975: Bicentennial commemorative paperweight (artist's proof). An attractive multi- faceted glass paperweight made in commemoration of the 1976 Bicentennial. The central white plaque, depicting the Liberty Bell and the dates 1776 and 1976, rests on a translucent dark pink/red base that is decorated with white droplets and 2 evenly spaced rows of controlled bubbles. In the second picture one can better see that the single top facet is surrounded by 2 rows of facets, each with 10 facets. The base has a pressed pontil signature ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio") and is also signed ("Kraft С75"). This is obviously an artist's proof since it is marked "sample". I have no idea how many of these were subsequently made. Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#J081)
	Carl Kraft: Bicentennial commemorative paperweight. Another attractive multi- faceted glass paperweight made in commemoration of the 1976 Bicentennial. A central white plaque, which depicts the Liberty Bell and the dates 1776 and 1976, rests on an opaque ruby and white mottled base that has a row of evenly spaced controlled bubbles. A single top facet is surrounded by 2 rows of facets (10 facets in each). The base has a clear pontil stamp in the shape of an apple ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio"). It is also signed ("Kraft #179"). This was obviously made in a limited edition, but I do not know how many of these were ever produced. Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#J082)
	Carl Kraft commemorative paperweight. Commemorative paperweight made by glass artist Carl Kraft for his 25th wedding anniversary. The base of this one-of-a-kind paperweight has a clear pontil stamp that is an apple with the words: "by Kraft Toledo Ohio". The paperweight is also artist signed and dated ("Kraft '72). Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#ZL667)
	Carl Kraft: "The Glass Apple" commemorative paperweight. Commemorative paperweight made by Carl Kraft in 1972 for the opening of his shop: "The Glass Apple", in Toledo, Ohio. The white commemorative plaque overlies a turquoise base with aventurine and also a peripheral row of controlled bubbles. The base has a clear pontil stamp that is an apple with the words: "by Kraft Toledo Ohio". The paperweight is also artist signed and dated ("Kraft '72). Diameter: 3". SOLD. (#ZL665)
	Carl Kraft 1975: paperweight pen holder. An interesting shaped paperweight pen (or pencil) holder, that also could be used for flowers! Heavy clear glass piece with 3 large red and white flowers encircled by controlled bubbles at their base. Height: 4". The first picture is a side-view and the next is a top-view. It is very similar in style to pieces made by Joe St. Clair and others at that time. Signed and dated on base with both a pontil stamp ("by Kraft Toledo Ohio") and signature ("Kraft '75"). SOLD. (#J093)
	Carl Kraft 1975: paperweight note holder. Early piece by Carl Kraft, made while he worked at the Owens Illinois Technical Center. Signed: Carl Kraft, Toledo, Ohio; O.I. Tech Center, 1966. Paperweight base has a diameter of 3╝"; spindle height is 3╜". SOLD. (#J012)