"World's largest paperweight" is usually a term of scorn, often applied to obsolete PCs. Now there really is a world's largest paperweight -- the original, glass kind. Its name is "'72 Megaplanet" and it was blown by glass artist Josh Simpson, who reportedly had to work out for six months to acquire the necessary strength and dexterity to make the attempt.

"'72 Megaplanet" is over 13 inches across and weighs 107 pounds. It is a solid orb with over 50 different colors of glass, reminiscent of swirling oceans, continents, and spaceships in orbit. The design was evidently inspired by Simpson's wife, astronaut Catherine G. "Cady" Coleman, (Colonel, USAF), a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions.

The paperweight is the 1000th in the collection of the Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. It was unveiled on November 18, and will be a permanent part of the Museum's collection. [11/25/2006]

February 10, 2012