Paperweight c. 19th century

This 19th-century glass paperweight, created by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, depicts a delicate branch of a pear tree. The clear glass sphere encloses two red pears with green leaves, a popular motif in 19th-century French glassmaking. The intricate details of the leaves and pears are achieved through the use of the pate de verre technique, in which colored glass is applied to the surface of the object. This charming paperweight is a beautiful example of decorative glass art and represents a popular style of the period.