John Deacons


In common with most of the other Scottish paperweight manufactories, the staff behind the John Deacons name circulated around a number of other paperweight making companies before settling at the business which ultimately made their names.

The founding father himself - John Deacons - began at Strathearn Glass in latter part of the 1960’s, and proved so adept during the early part of his career that he was one of those approached to move to Perthshire Paperweights when Stuart Drysdale struck out on his own, cherry-picking the best of those who had worked under him in Crieff.

Such is the constantly evolving nature of the trade that having contributed to Perthshire’s success, Deacons himself determined to make his own way, and started up his own business under the name of J-Glass a decade or so after having been ‘poached’. Deacons was primarily a lover of ‘classical’ paperweights, especially those made in mid 19th century Bohemia, but in order to broaden the appeal of his company’s product range he sought out a lampwork specialist alongside whom he could work. This, it transpired, was to be Allan Scott, a former Perthshire alumnus who had been apprenticed alongside Deacons. The company could now meet the demand for butterfly and flower paperweights, the creation of which was Scott's forte. Deacons and Halls were kept busy producing weights which, for the most part, were exported to the United States, including an opening to the west coast market orchestrated by no less than Larry Selman, one of the foremost names in the business. As was often the case, weights were produced in limited production runs to ensure that there was high demand the instant that a new design was released – though this was, of course, predicated on the fact that collectors new in advance that the items would be of an exceptionally high quality. Unfortunately, the austerity of the early to mid 1980’s did Deacons no favours at all and as high-end demand fell away, insolvency loomed; perhaps a supply of more affordable, commodity weights would have kept the wolf from the door… John Deacons was eventually able to restart production after a hiatus a couple of years or so, but on very much of a ‘cottage industry’ scale, with the quality of outturn remaining very high, but production costs being kept as low as possible to ensure that the paperweights remained within reach for clients. This extended to the facility to produce what were essentially ‘one off’ designs, produced – in true artisan style – in a converted cow barn ! What this does mean is that there is a very wide range of paperweights which carry the John Deacons name – everything from single flowers to intricate bouquets, classic millefiori to facetted double-overlays and from Christmas special editions to facsimiles of 19th century St Louis hand-coolers.

Paperweights which can be attributed to John Deacons may have one of three different "standard' signature canes - a single J cane, a JD cane or an StK cane - the latter standing for St Kilda, a Deacons brand name taken from a Hebridean island; there was also an on-line discussion some years ago which hinted at the use of a StA cane, for St Andrews (an alternate brand name for export items), and of JHD canes, so these are definitely ones to keep an eye out for if you are looking to acquire less common John Deacons paperweights !

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A John Deacons Pompom Lampwork Paperweight 2014

A John Deacons Pompom Lampwork Paperweight 2014

A John Deacons Pompom Lampwork Paperweight 2014

£225.00

A John Deacons Pompom Lampwork Paperweight 2010

A John Deacons Pompom Lampwork Paperweight 2010

A John Deacons Pompom Lampwork Paperweight 2010

£250.00

A John Deacons Lampwork Flower Torsade In Stave Basket Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Lampwork Flower Torsade In Stave Basket Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Lampwork Flower Torsade In Stave Basket Paperweight c2000

£250.00

A William Manson Lampwork Flower Bouquet Limited Edition Paperweight c1990

A William Manson Lampwork Flower Bouquet Limited Edition Paperweight c1990

A William Manson Lampwork Flower Bouquet Limited Edition Paperweight c1990

£180.00

A John Deacons St Kilda Fifteen Radial Spoke Paperweight c1980

A John Deacons St Kilda Fifteen Radial Spoke Paperweight c1980

A John Deacons St Kilda Fifteen Radial Spoke Paperweight c1980

£95.00

John Deacons Lampwork Clematis On Muslin Overlay Paperweight 2001

John Deacons Lampwork Clematis On Muslin Overlay Paperweight 2001

A John Deacons Lampwork Clematis On Muslin Overlay Paperweight 2001

£250.00

A John Deacons Lampwork  Pansy Filigrana Crown Paperweight 2003

A John Deacons Lampwork Pansy Filigrana Crown Paperweight 2003

A John Deacons lampwork pansy filigrana crown paperweight from 2003. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.

£110.00

A John Deacons Eight Radial Spoke MIlleriori Facet Cut Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Eight Radial Spoke MIlleriori Facet Cut Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Eight Radial Spoke MIlleriori Facet Cut Paperweight c2000

£80.00

A William Manson Paul Ysart Tribute Dragonfly Paperweight c1990

A William Manson Paul Ysart Tribute Dragonfly Paperweight c1990

A William Manson Paul Ysart Tribute Dragonfly Paperweight c1990

£195.00

A John Deacons Eight Radial Spoke MIlleriori Facet Cut Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Eight Radial Spoke MIlleriori Facet Cut Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Eight Radial Spoke MIlleriori Facet Cut Paperweight c2000

£65.00

A John Deacons Purple Lampwork Violet Piedouche Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Purple Lampwork Violet Piedouche Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Purple Lampwork Violet Piedouche Paperweight c2000

£225.00

A John Deacons & William Manson Limited Edition Lampwork & Millefiori Flower Paperweight c2006

A John Deacons & William Manson Limited Edition Lampwork & Millefiori Flower Paperweight c2006

A John Deacons & William Manson Limited Edition Lampwork & Millefiori Flower Paperweight c2006

£175.00

A John Deacons Linear Latticino Twist and Millefiori Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Linear Latticino Twist and Millefiori Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Linear Latticino Twist and Millefiori Paperweight c2000

£55.00

A John Deacons Clichy Rose Linear Millefiori Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Clichy Rose Linear Millefiori Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Clichy Rose Linear Millefiori Paperweight c2000

£60.00

A John Deacons Double Overlay Flower Bouquet Paperweight 2008

A John Deacons Double Overlay Flower Bouquet Paperweight 2008

A John Deacons Double Overlay Flower Bouquet Paperweight 2008

£225.00

A John Deacons Lampwork Torsade Facet Cut Paperweight 2006

A John Deacons Lampwork Torsade Facet Cut Paperweight 2006

A John Deacons Lampwork Torsade Facet Cut Paperweight

£180.00

A John Deacons Lampwork Dahlia Paperweight 2003

A John Deacons Lampwork Dahlia Paperweight 2003

A John Deacons Lampwork Dahlia Paperweight 2003

£190.00

A John Deacons Radial Crown Paperweight 1995

A John Deacons Radial Crown Paperweight 1995

A John Deacons Radial Crown Paperweight 1995

£130.00

A John Deacons Glass Plum Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Glass Plum Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Glass Plum Paperweight c2000

£30.00

 John Deacons Glass Strawberry Paperweight c2000

John Deacons Glass Strawberry Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Glass Plum Paperweight c2000

£30.00

A John Deacons Glass Blackberry Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Glass Blackberry Paperweight c2000

A John Deacons Glass Plum Paperweight c2000

£30.00

A John Deacons Lampwork Woodpecker On A Branch 2004

A John Deacons Lampwork Woodpecker On A Branch 2004

A John Deacons Lampwork Woodpecker On A Branch 2004

£180.00

A John Deacons Crown Paperweight 2004

A John Deacons Crown Paperweight 2004

A John Deacon Crown Paperweight from 2004. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.

£100.00

A John Deacons Lampwork Bird On Fence Paperwight c2005

A John Deacons Lampwork Bird On Fence Paperwight c2005

A John Deacons lampwork bird on a lace cushion paperweight

£195.00

A John Deacons Radial Millefiori Paperweight c1990

A John Deacons Radial Millefiori Paperweight c1990

A John Deacons Radial Millefiori Paperweight c1990

£60.00

A John Deacons Lampwork Flower & Latticino  Paperweight c2003

A John Deacons Lampwork Flower & Latticino Paperweight c2003

A John Deacons lampwork flower and latticino paperweight from 2003. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.

£130.00

A John Deacons Millefiori Latticino Crown Paperweight 2004

A John Deacons Millefiori Latticino Crown Paperweight 2004

A John Deacons millefiori latticino crown paperweight from 2004. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.

£110.00

A John Deacons Millefiori Spirals Paperweight 1999

A John Deacons Millefiori Spirals Paperweight 1999

A John Deacons Millefiori Spirals Paperweight 1999

£75.00

A John Deacons Millefiori Crown Paperweight 1995

A John Deacons Millefiori Crown Paperweight 1995

A John Deacons Millefiori Crown Paperweight 1995

£140.00

A John Deacons Silhouette Millefiori Rondel Paperweight 2002

A John Deacons Silhouette Millefiori Rondel Paperweight 2002

A John Deacons Silhouette Millefiori Rondel Paperweight 2002

£165.00

A William Manson Charles And Diana Wedding Limited Edition Paperweight 1981

A William Manson Charles And Diana Wedding Limited Edition Paperweight 1981

A William Manson Charles And Diana Wedding Limited Edition Paperweight 1981

£180.00

A John Deacons Millefiori Multicoloured Twists Paperweight c2005

A John Deacons Millefiori Multicoloured Twists Paperweight c2005

A John Deacons Millefiori Multicoloured Twists Paperweight c2005

£150.00

A John Deacons Aventurine Lampwork Primrose And Butterfly Paperweight 2004

A John Deacons Aventurine Lampwork Primrose And Butterfly Paperweight 2004

A John Deacons aventurine lampwork primrose and butterfly paperweight from 2004. Available from Scottish Antiques online store.

£135.00

A John Deacons Blue Pansy Lampwork Paperweight 1994

A John Deacons Blue Pansy Lampwork Paperweight 1994

A John Deacons Blue Pansy Lampwork Paperweight 1994

£135.00

A Large John Deacons Clichy Rose Concentric Paperweight c2010

A Large John Deacons Clichy Rose Concentric Paperweight c2010

A John Deacons Clichy Rose Concentric Paperweight c2010

£150.00

A John Deacons Stag Silhouette Concentric Millefiori Paperweight c1990

A John Deacons Stag Silhouette Concentric Millefiori Paperweight c1990

A John Deacons Stag Silhouette Concentric Millefiori Paperweight c1990

£80.00

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