Page 46 - July1998

188 NATn0NAlr BujTTON BUTLETIN July 1998

whom lorio knew personally. lorio was well aware of the work of all three
artists who were to become legends in the field of glass.
Drawn by a need to emulate those who had successfully gone before
him, lorio took on the challenge of the famous American beauty [Figure
81. He stated during the 1972lecture that it took him 17 attempts, "but
could have been 1 ,700", and on the 17th, he made a pedect miniature
rose signed "W.lorio 1969" (this weight is shown in Jean Melvin's book
American Glass Paperweights and Their Makers, revised edition as Figure
1O on the fifth page of color plates following page 32). His price list
offered a pink Millville type rose with green leaves and faceted for $50.
-\
U),lliam lorio's life was never a riddle. From beginning to end, he
was consumed with his affection for glass. Very few artists can clarm skill
in cut and engraved glass as well as hot glass worked from the tank and
in the flame. Through relentless effort, William became a skilled glass
craftsman and artist working in miniature. His finest works are treasured
by collectors today. The lorios, Louis and William, are deservedly part of
thelong and glorious Jersey glass tradition.

End Note: 'The N/uranese millefiori were made by one of the glass making
Moretti families who were related to the nineteenth century glass master Vincenzo
Moretti (1835-1901). Vincenzo began his career as a cane-drawer for Pietro
Bigaglia who is now credited with producing the very first desk papenrueight in the
early 1840's.

Acknowledgements: Appreciation is extended to William E. lorio and John E.
Gooderham for their cooperation in supplying additional information for this
article.

To Learn More:
A transcript of the speech "William J. lorio, Paperweight Buttons" presented to
The New Jersey State Chapter of the National Button Society, September, 1972,
can be found in the Seotember-October 1976 issue of The National Button
Bulletin.
The article "The lorio Family of Glass Arlists" by Jo Ann Rogers in the Antique
Trader Weekly (January, 1977) provides some fascinating history of this
glassmaking family.
Additional Williarn lorio paperweights are illustrated in American Glass
Paperweights and Their Makers, Revised Edition, by Jean S. Melvin (pgs. 182-183).
"Thure Ericson: Another Master of Djminutive Glass Blossoms", an article by
Tony Beadell in the 1997 Annual Bulletin of the Paperwetght Collectors
Association (page 30), provides further information on paperweight buttons.
About the Author:Tony Beadell is President and Portfolio Manager of A.D.
Beadell Investment Counsel, lnc., Mequon, Wisconsin. He is a member of the
National Button Society, the Paperweight Collectors Association, the Chicago
Chapter of the PCA, the Friends of Wheaton Village, and the Bergstrom-Mahler
Museum. he serves on the boards of the Eohraim Foundation (historical
preservation) and the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Museum,
All illustrated paperweight buttons are from the author's collection.