Paperweight c. 1848 - 1855

This paperweight was made by Baccarat Glassworks. In the nineteenth century, glass paperweights became incredibly popular objects, collected and displayed by both men and women across the social classes. The rise of industrialization and mass production made them more accessible, and they quickly became a staple of middle-class homes. But more than mere desk ornaments, paperweights also offered a glimpse into the Victorian fascination with the natural world. Encasing delicate, stylized floral arrangements, they allowed a controlled, almost scientific observation of nature, aligning with broader cultural interests of the time. The paperweight preserves an image, holding it still, like an insect trapped in amber. Its stillness offering a moment of contemplation amid the rapid changes of the industrial era.