Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This paperweight was made from glass by the Clichy Glasshouse in France, sometime between 1837 and 1885. Looking at this object, we can see the way that glass-making became an important part of French industry in the nineteenth century. The Clichy Glasshouse was one of several firms that specialized in luxury glass objects. The production of this paperweight reflects France's economic expansion during this time, as well as the growth of a wealthy middle class with the money and the taste for decorative objects. Notice the careful arrangement of colorful florets. These patterns reflect the aesthetic interests of the time, when the fashion for idealized, two-dimensional floral designs was at its height. As historians, we can learn more about this paperweight by researching the archives of the Clichy Glasshouse, as well as the design trends and consumer culture of 19th-century France. In this way, we can understand the social conditions that made such objects possible.