Paperweight c. 1845 - 1855

This "Paperweight" (c. 1845-1855) is a fine example of millefiori glass, created by Clichy Glasshouse, a prominent glassworks in France. Millefiori, Italian for "thousand flowers," involves arranging colorful rods of glass, known as canes, to create intricate patterns. The canes are then fused together, sliced, and often used to make decorative objects like this paperweight, now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. These intricate, delicate patterns of colorful flowers encased in clear glass were popular in the 19th century and continue to captivate art enthusiasts today.