Paperweight c. 19th century

This paperweight, crafted by Saint Louis Glass Works, encases a delicate flower, a potent symbol. The flower, a motif of renewal and ephemerality, blooms amidst red and white swirls, evocative of the dance between passion and purity. Such floral emblems find echoes in Botticelli's "Primavera," where flowers burst forth, heralding the season of rebirth. The rose, in particular, has journeyed through time, from ancient Roman garlands to the heraldic emblems of medieval knights, evolving into a symbol of love and beauty. The choice of glass as a medium adds another layer, representing fragility and transparency. It is not merely an object, but a vessel of memory, carrying with it the weight of cultural symbols, each twist and swirl a testament to the enduring power of images across time.