Paperweight c. 19th century

This 19th-century glass paperweight, created by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, features a painted scene of a couple in profile, likely a royal pair. The detailed painting is contained within a clear glass sphere, creating a magnifying effect. The piece demonstrates the use of decorative glasswork and its potential as a miniature portrait or commemorative object. The technique of cameo glass, where the design is cut and polished into the glass, was particularly popular during the 19th century.