Paperweight 1850 - 1900

Curator: So, what captures your attention about this glass paperweight? Editor: Well, this "Paperweight," likely created between 1850 and 1900 by the Clichy Glasshouse, feels very intimate to me. Encased in glass, a white portrait almost floats in the object, with what looks like a reddish, or maybe burnt-orange backdrop. The details are captivating; it feels like more than a decorative object. What is your perspective? Curator: That sense of intimacy you identify is crucial. Who had the privilege to be immortalized in such a delicate and costly object? What was the power dynamic? We have a portrait of a bearded gentleman enshrined. Was this about familial legacy, patriarchal structures, or social aspirations of the middle class during the Industrial Revolution? This era cemented power structures in ways that still echo today. This work reflects those systems and who was able to be remembered, or even elevated, through craft. Editor: I never thought of it that way. I saw this paperweight as a simple objet d’art. It’s interesting to consider it reflecting those entrenched social hierarchies. So the artistry on display isn't separate from those political underpinnings? Curator: Exactly! What we often perceive as mere decoration or craft is inherently linked to broader social and political landscapes. Who has the power to commission, to create, and to be represented? These are all valid lines of questioning that can shape how we read this paperweight today. And, more importantly, helps us question assumptions embedded in seemingly innocuous everyday objects. Editor: I now have so much more to think about when approaching similar artworks in the future. Considering whose stories are prioritized is an important lens. Curator: Indeed. Always look beyond the surface and question the narratives embedded within the art and culture that surrounds us. It allows us to think critically about the present, too.