Paperweight c. 1846s

Curator: Here we have a paperweight dating back to around the 1840s, attributed to Baccarat Glassworks, now residing here at The Art Institute of Chicago. It’s crafted from glass, of course, and even includes a paper insert. Editor: It's surprisingly captivating for such a humble object. The blue glass is incredibly vibrant, and that multifaceted cut gives it the illusion of a precious gem. Curator: Indeed. Objects like these say a lot about the rising middle class in Europe in the mid-19th century. These paperweights were popular luxury items, symbols of refinement and taste easily displayed on one's desk or in the parlor. Glassworks like Baccarat were riding a wave of success as consumerism expanded. Editor: Absolutely. The image within the glass, the little silver image; what is that to you? Curator: It seems to be some religious motif... Perhaps Virgin Mary... These small icons or inserts gave these items even greater personal meaning. They transformed functional objects into treasured keepsakes and even subtle statements of faith, perhaps. Editor: The color reinforces that. I am interested in how a cobalt color is tied to the imagery of the divine and holiness, from stained glass windows to royal garments, an emblem of authority and purity encased within this small world of glass. It feels like it carries all the emotional weight of centuries. Curator: And its popularity really exploded during the Victorian Era and onward. Factories mass-producing these, leading to innovative glassmaking techniques like millefiori... I find the institutionalization and mass production of even the “divine” pretty amazing. Editor: Even mass-produced, though, it still has that talismanic quality. One can feel it might be about protection... it may represent something to center your focus in one's everyday, in one's work, at one's desk. Curator: Right, from decorative status symbol to more than meets the eye. Very fascinating. Editor: Exactly, it really makes you think about all the meanings condensed into something so deceptively small.