Page 31 - May1990

MAY I99O N.ATNONAN, BI]TTON tsUI,N,ETNN 77

PAPERWEIGHTS: DOUBLE DELIGHT
by Betty Korostynski
Many button collectors will recognize this paperweight button as a creation of Mr.
John Gooderham. Upon purchasing it from him at the 1989 NBS convention in
Minneapolis, MN. Mr. Gooderham graciously revealed the identity of its'co-artist.
Mr. Gooderham showed me an article by Kathy M. Moyer entitled "Edward D.
Poore: A Multi-Faceted Career" which appeared in the 1988 Annual Bulletin of the
Paperweight Collectors'Assoc., Inc. Moyer's article compares techniques used by Mr.
Poore when cutting overlays on the Gooderham mini-basket weight versus cuts on a
large basket paperweight by Ray Banford.
Besides being "one of only three people who restore paperweights today," Mr.
Poore transformed the above paperweight button into a double delight by using his
innovative faceting technique on the colored outside coatings ofglass which are called
overlays. Since the basket by Gooderham is a much smaller version than Mr.
Banford's paperweight, the cuts are "even more critical because there is literally no
room for error or correction" due to the size of the paperweight as well as the thickness
of the overlays.

Basket paperweight with double casing by John Gooderham. (Photo by Betty
Korostynski.)

Once Mr. Gooderham has created a paperweight perfect in detail and shape he
must then apply layers of colored glass to the entire surface. Mr. Poore cuts away the
pontil so that Mr. Gooderhams'interior design will be exactly centered. Then using
diamond wheels Mr. Poore slowly cuts through the layers to expose the hidden design.
Finally the entire paperweight is polished. Out of approximately 100 attempts only I I
button baskets have "turned out to my satisfaction" according to Mr. Gooderham.
Such an intricate process makes it apparent why this is one of the most sought after
types of modern paperweight buttons and it should add more than a double delight to
any button collection.
(The 1988 Paperweight Collectorb Bulletin also contains an article by Mr. Poore with
colored photographs clearly illustrating his techniques. Although limited in
publication, you can obtain a copy of the PCA Bulletin with a check for $25 to PCA,
Inc., P.O. Box 468 Garden City Park, NY I1040)