It sounds like you may have found a glass “spiked” decorative object, which is often used as a paperweight or art glass piece. Many of these were made in the mid- to late-20th century as sculptural decor.
Possibilities
1. Art glass paperweight
- Heavy solid glass helps hold papers in place.
- The spikes are decorative and sometimes intentionally sharp.
- Often handmade or studio-blown.
2. Decorative “sputnik” glass sculpture
- Inspired by the space-age design trend after the Sputnik 1 Launch.
- These pieces mimic the spiky satellite look and are used purely as decor.
3. Glass flower frog
- Some vintage flower frogs have spikes to hold stems in place inside a bowl or vase.
- However, these usually have holes or metal pins, so if yours is a solid lump of glass, this is less likely.
Clues that help identify it
Look for:
- Maker’s mark or etched signature on the bottom
- Pontil mark (rough or polished spot where it was removed from a glass rod)
- Color patterns or controlled bubbles typical of studio glass
If you want, you can upload a photo of the piece. I can often identify:
- whether it’s a paperweight, art glass sculpture, or something else,
- possible maker or era,
- and approximate value. 🔎
