Paperweight 1848

This paperweight was created by the Compagnie de Saint Louis using lampwork glass. It represents the highpoint of glassmaking as a luxury industry in nineteenth-century France. The overall effect of the paperweight is achieved through painstaking labor. Individual glass rods are bundled together into patterned canes, which are then sliced into segments and arranged in a tight, circular formation. This requires precise coordination by a team of glassworkers, each with specialized skills. The central motif, with two silhouetted figures, indicates the level of complexity involved. The entire assembly is then encased in clear glass, magnifying the intricate design. Objects like these represent a paradox. They required intense skill, but were ultimately conceived as a beautiful desk accessory, a purely decorative object. This reflects the tension between the handmade and the industrial, fine art and craft, that characterized the period. By considering the social context and the labor involved, we can more fully appreciate the intricate beauty of this paperweight.