Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

Curator: Let's explore this "Paperweight," attributed to the Clichy Glasshouse, made around 1845 to 1860. It’s currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It gives me the impression of swirling clouds or perhaps some strange kind of frozen celestial object. The blue and white patterns are both soothing and a little disorienting, creating quite a depth, an optical illusion. Curator: Paperweights from this period weren't just functional, but statements about nature and containment, encapsulating miniature floral arrangements as metaphors for the natural world tamed or appreciated in controlled forms. Editor: So, the flower, which appears centrally… It functions as an axis around which the form seems to spiral out. The spiraling bands contrast against the controlled centeredness of the small flower. It is so contained; a perfect geometric construction. Curator: It could suggest a Victorian-era fascination with cataloging nature or perhaps serve as a symbolic memento. This flower, fixed inside a protective dome, also symbolizes purity and eternal preservation. I feel it expresses anxieties around the passing of time. Editor: But I think you are ascribing intent to a pretty decorative art object. Look at how the color interacts; the bands of blue refracting as they curve, contrasting the transparency of the clear glass… for me, it speaks volumes about the physics of light as manipulated by the artisans of that time. Curator: It is both beautiful and a signifier of the times it came from, in my view. Editor: Indeed, regardless of the weight we attach to the symbol or craft, one can certainly spend many long moments studying it. Curator: I concur, it has layers upon layers for us to continue unpacking in perpetuity.