Paperweight c. 1848 - 1855

This exquisite paperweight was created by the Clichy Glasshouse between 1837 and 1885. Encased in clear crystal glass, the composition features three meticulously crafted flowers with green leaves and stems. The structure of this piece invites us to consider the relationship between containment and display. The delicate floral arrangement is preserved within a seemingly infinite field of white filigree, creating a sense of depth and suspension. Each flower, with its distinct color and shape, is rendered with remarkable detail. The blue bellflower, the central red and white flower, and the yellow-edged bloom demonstrate the technical skill and artistic vision of the glassmakers. The choice of glass as a medium and the spherical form are not accidental. Glass, with its ability to refract light and create illusions, challenges our perception of reality. The artist engages with structural principles of symmetry and balance, yet subtly disrupts them by individualizing each flower. These elements work together to destabilize fixed meanings, inviting us to contemplate beauty, artifice, and the ephemeral nature of existence.