Paperweight c. 19th century

This 19th-century "Paperweight" by the Saint Louis Glass Works is a beautiful example of the art of glassblowing. The paperweight features a clear glass sphere with colorful, concentric circles and flower-like designs encased within. This technique, known as millefiori ("thousand flowers"), involves creating colorful rods of glass that are then sliced and fused together to create intricate patterns. These paperweights were popular in the 19th century and were used to hold down papers on desks or to simply admire as decorative objects. The "Paperweight" is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.