Help me find these paperweights

March 10, 2022 6:37 PM

I bought a set of nice paperweights years ago at the store in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. They're little leather or suede (or fake versions of those) squares, about 2" on a side.

I bought these paperweights at PAFA in Philadelphia some years ago. They're square, made of leather, suede, or a fake version of those, and it feels like they are full of a sand-like material (I only have 4, so I'm not cutting one open to see). I believe they are stitched around the perimeter, but if so they are tiny stitches - and there must be sealant or glue also, because none of the filling has ever leaked from them. I'd like to buy some more but I can't find them - most paperweight searches come up with glass paperweights.

posted by TimHare to Home & Garden (7 answers total)

Best answer: You’ve got archival weights! Makes sense that you got these at an art academy because they are used to keep maps and architectural drawings from curling without leaving marks, and to help with framing and bookbinding. You can find them in many combinations of size, weight, fill, outer material, etc. Some of the nicest are full of lead shot. In a cursory search I couldn’t find any square leather ones, but there are nice round ones.
posted by Mizu at 7:14 PM on March 10, 2022 [6 favorites]

Can you email PAFA for info? They might be able to direct you to their supplier if they no longer carry them, or supply you if they do. PAFA is wonderful and has a really terrific museum store.
posted by citygirl at 8:28 PM on March 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Various stores sell these for use in the arts, archival or library contexts, etc. E.G. https://www.harryepstein.com/3-1-2-square-shot-filled-leather-map-paper-weight.html

Find more with a search for:
“leather” “paperweight” square
posted by cupcakeninja at 3:55 AM on March 11, 2022 [1 favorite]

Levenger draftsman’s weights?

Or book weights?
posted by Peach at 9:20 AM on March 11, 2022

How about these? I have the round ones and can vouch for their sturdiness.
posted by Charity Garfein at 12:55 PM on March 11, 2022

You can also find these as "map weights".
posted by xedrik at 9:14 PM on March 11, 2022

Response by poster: All were good answers, I had to pick one to declare as 'best answer' but these all were useful.
posted by TimHare at 9:26 PM on April 10, 2022