ob Banford was born in Camden, N.J., on December 10, 1951. He developed many interests growing up, among those was photography. He once thought about becoming a professional, but after doing a few jobs and having trouble being compensated for his work he decided to go in another direction. Bob's parents discovered his interest in glass during his senior year of high school.

Realizing his capabilities, they helped and encouraged him. His parents gave him a torch for a graduation present in 1971. Bob learned mostly by a trial and error method since there were no places at that time to learn such a skilled art. "My only lesson was in spun glass. Lowell Caulkin, a glass worker from South Jersey, took my hands and taught me how to make a spun glass ship," recalls Bob.

Although Bob has no "formal" lampwork training, he developed his skill by working as a scientific glass blower at Wilmad Scientific Glass Company of Buena, N.J. In 1972 he became the glass demonstrator on the famous Steel Pier in Atlantic City.

In 1973 he produced his first paperweights and sold them to a noted Millville paperweight dealer, Arthur Gorham. In 1975, Bob had become such a skilled lampworker that Maestro Severino Bubacco (of Murano, Italy) invited him to demonstrate at a series of expositions in Paris.

During these years Bob was experimenting and producing paperweights in the home workshop he shared with his father, Ray. In discussing Bob's paperweights, mention must be made of his working relationship with his father. Working together in the same shop, they experimented and developed many "firsts" in lampwork paperweight making. Their close association can easily be see in their "father and son" collaborative weights.

Bob was the first maker to produce compound paperweights (the use of multi-layering in the designs). The first attempts were simple, stylized flowers with hovering bumble bees or dragon flies. Today, after years of growth, these delicate bees now hover over layered bouquets of upright flowers and leaves. In 1976, he had a paperweight accepted and placed on permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. Bob was one of the earliest paperweight artists accorded this privilege.

In 1978 the Corning Museum of Glass mounted an exhibit "Paperweights: Flowers Which Clothe the Meadows." Bob was asked to participate and was one of a few contemporary artists included. Bob was honored to be the first and only contemporary artist to have a paperweight of his on the cover of the Paperweight Collectors Association Bulletin of 1988.

Bob continues to ever be widening his talents by continually adding new techniques into his style of glasswork. He continues to broaden his use of detailed petals and leaves in his "Antique French"-styled paperweights. "I feel if your work doesn't continue to be a challenge, then you can't be moving forward in your attempts to achieve your goals," says Bob.

Bob's paperweights are on display at numerous museums; among them are:

• Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York
• Museum of American Glass, Wheaton Village, Millville, New Jersey
• Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois

lassworking was not Ray's first occupation. Born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1918, Ray worked as a fireman from 1946 until 1973. Ray married his wife Ruth in 1948. In 1951, they had a son, Robert.

The witty Ruth not only brought her clever sense of humor to the marriage, but also her inherited love of glass and antiques. Like a sponge, Ray began to read and meet antique dealers, soaking up knowledge about glass and other precious objects. He also met old-time South Jersey glassblowers. Ray became a well-informed dealer of art glass and antique paperweights. His love of antique paperweights led him to discover the works of other early lampwork paperweight makers.

About this time, Ray's son Bob was graduating from high school. As a present, Ray and Ruth gave Bob a propane and oxygen burner used to melt glass rod. Unable to resist, Ray began to experiment with the burner, eventually resulting in a line of small paperweight pendants and miniature buttons. Like so many of the early lampwork artists, Ray and Bob pursued all avenues to find suitable and compatible glass. After three years of struggles, Ray's own style of weights began to emerge. Ray and Bob both developed their own paperweights while working closely in their shared studio in the garage of their home. They worked together experimenting with techniques but each creating his own unique style.

Ray is known primarily for two types of flowers he developed. He is famous for his many types of roses. Single roses and bouquets in a wide range of colors and shadings.

He and Bob also developed a way to overlay the paperweights with color. The pieces later being cut with various windows. Perhaps the single piece for which the Banfords are most known is a basket-cut overlay with either rose or iris bouquets contained therein. Also made were clear baskets, the cutting done by master glass cutter Ed Poore.

The other type of flower weights Ray is known for is the iris. From magnum-sized bouquets to a small single flower, he has created an abundance of different designs. He, along with son Bob, also create colabritve pieces, though very few.

Now Ray has cut back on his paperweight making, creating no more than 15 weights a year. He takes pleasure in reminiscing about the early days of lampwork paperweight making and the friends he has made. Sharing his love of glass and paperweights with his family and associates is still an important part of Ray's life. After more than twenty years, Ray Banford's influence on paperweights has been enormous. Although he will eventually retire, the legacy of paperweights he leaves behind insures he will never be forgotten.

Ray's paperweights are in numerous public and private collections; among them are:

• Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York
• Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah, Wisconsin
• Museum of American Glass, at Wheaton Village, Millville, New Jersey

Excerpts taken from Paperweight Collectors Association annual bulletin article on Ray in 1995.

   Copyright © 1999-, R. Banford, Inc.

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