Caithness Paperweights
The company was found in 1961 by Robin Sinclair, 2nd Viscount Thurso, an RAF Flight Lieutenant (reconnaissance) who became a businessman and politician after his wartime career became redundant.
Paul Ysart joined the Viscount's enterprise in 1963, but it was not until Colin Terris was recruited six years later that Caithness glass paperweight production was embraced commercially (with the assistance of Ysart’s apprentice, Peter Holmes (of later Selkirk renown).
Eschewing standard millefiori and lampwork designs from the early stages of their paperweight production, Caithness embraced unusual and abstract compositions, created in limited editions intended to appeal to collectors at home and abroad. Terris’s arrival coincided with the moon landings, and he eagerly caught the zeitgeist with a series of celestially-themed paperweights which proved exceptionally popular; he also founded the Caithness Collectors Society to make the most of the demand for the company’s products.
The next great leap forward for Caithness came in the early 1980’s with the acquisition of the naming rights and intellectual property of Whitefriars Glass when the latter ceased trading. True to their business model, Caithness instigated the production of an annual Whitefriars limited edition paperweight.
The centre of production was moved to Perth shortly after the Whitefriars takeover, along with a further factory being started in Oban and the expansion of the original Wick location.
Linda Campbell Japanese Tea Ceremony Limited Edition Whitefriars Caithness Paperweight 2003
A Linda Campbell Japanese Tea Ceremony Limited Edition Whitefriars Caithness Paperweight 2003
£200.00
Allan Scott Snowdrop Symphony Whitefriars Caithness Limited Edition Window Paperweight 2001
An Allan Scott Snowdrop Symphony Whitefriars Caithness Limited Edition Paperweight 2001
£190.00
A Colin Terris Caithness Comet Limited Edition Paperweight 1977
A Colin Terris Caithness Comet Limited Edition Paperweight 1977
£40.00
A Caithness Carousel Limited Edition Paperweight
A Caithness Carousel Limited Edition Paperweight c1975
£40.00
A Caithness Alastair MacIntosh Supersonic Paperweight 1995
A Caithness Alastair MacIntosh Supersonic Paperweight 1995
£40.00
A Caithness Space Rose Limited Edition Paperweight 1976
A Caithness Space Rose Limited Edition Paperweight 1976
£35.00
A Caithness Margot Thompson Affinity Limited Edition Paperweight 1989
A Caithness Margot Thompson Affinity Limited Edition Paperweight 1989
£45.00
A Caithness Colin Terris Space Flower Limited Edition Paperweight 1976
A Caithness Colin Terris Space Flower Limited Edition Paperweight 1976
£75.00
A Caithness Jubilee Rose Limited Edition Paperweight 1977
A Caithness Jubilee Rose Limited Edition Paperweight 1977
£45.00
A Caithness Angel Fish Limited Edition Window Paperweight 1978
A Caithness Angel Fish Limited Edition Paperweight 1978
£35.00
A Caithness Wildflower Collection Paperweight 2006
A Caithness Wildflower Collection Paperweight 2006
£30.00
A William Manson Butterfly Millefiori Scent Bottle 1999
A William Manson Butterfly Millefiori Scent Bottle 1999
£190.00
An Elizabeth II 50th Anniversary Of Coronation Paperweight 2003
An Elizabeth II 50th Anniversary Of Coronation 2003
£65.00
A William & Carolyn Manson Mojave Desert Master Sample Paperweight 1999
A William & Carolyn Manson Mojave Desert Master Sample Paperweight 1999
£490.00
A Caithness Tian Di Ren Heaven Paperweight from Linda Campbell 2004
A Caithness Tian Di Ren Heaven paperweight from Linda Campbell 2004. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.
£125.00
A Caithness Tian Di Ren Earth Paperweight from Linda Campbell 2004
A Caithness Tian Di Ren Earth Paperweight from Linda Campbell 2004
£110.00
A Caithness Tian Di Ren Heaven Paperweight By Linda Campbell 2004
A Caithness Tian Di Ren Heaven paperweight from Linda Campbell 2004
£125.00
A Caithness Colin Terris Limited Edition Jubilee Floating Crown Paperweight 1977
A Caithness Colin Terris Limited Edition Jubilee Floating Crown Paperweight 1977
£41.00
A Caithness Limited Edition Regal Crown Paperweight 2002
A Caithness Limited Edition Regal Crown Paperweight 2002
£41.00
A Caithness Helen MacDonald Limited Edition Paperweight Tropicana 1996
A Caithness Helen MacDonald Limited Edition Paperweight Tropicana 1996
£63.00
A Caithness Alastair MacIntosh Limited Edition Facet Cut Tijuana Paperweight 1998
A Caithness Alastair MacIntosh Limited Edition Facet Cut Tijuana Paperweight 1998
£49.50
A Caithness Helen MacDonald Burning Desire Paperweight For Atlantic Bridge 2000
A Caithness Helen MacDonald Burning Desire Paperweight For Atlantic Bridge 2000
£81.00
A Caithness Alastair MacIntosh Limited Edition Tyrolean Summer Paperweight 1995
A Caithness Alastair MacIntosh Limited Edition Tyrolean Summer Paperweight 1995
£63.00
A Caithness Colin Terris Limited Edition Floral Illusion Paperweight 1991
A Caithness Colin Terris Limited Edition Floral Illusion Paperweight 1991
£45.00
A Colin Terris Apparition Caithness Limited Edition Paperweight 1997
A Colin Terris Apparation Caithness Limited Edition Paperweight 1997
£85.00
A Royal Wedding Caithness Luckenbooth Edward and Sophie Paperweight 1999
A Royal Wedding Caithness Luckenbooth Edward and Sophie Paperweight 1999
£90.00
A Colin Terris & William Manson Caithness Swan Paperweight 1979
A Colin Terris & William Manson Caithness Swan Paperweight 1979
£120.00
A Caithness Thistle Lampwork Highland Bouquet Paperweight c1990
A Caithness Thistle Lampwork Highland Bouquet Paperweight c1990
£155.00
A Caithness Lampwork Flower Paperweight c1980 'Camelia Caithness 149/250'
A Caithness Lampwork Flower Paperweight c1980 'Carnelia Caithness 149/250'. Available from Scottish Antiques online store
£150.00
A Whitefriars Caithness Large Sherlock Holmes Paperweight 1987
A Whitefriars Caithness Large Sherlock Holmes Paperweight 1987
£180.00
A Caithness Sea Pearl Peter Holmes Paperweight 1976
A Caithness Sea Pearl Peter Holmes Paperweight 1976. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.
£60.00
A Colin Terris Hydroponic Caithness Paperweight 1992
A Colin Terris Hydroponic Caithness Paperweight 1992
£60.00
A Colin Terris & William Manson Swan Paperweight 1978
A Colin Terris & William Manson Swan Paperweight 1978
£125.00
A Rare Colin Terris Caithness Iris Paperweight 1986
A Colin Terris Caithness Iris Paperweight 1986
£125.00