Paperweight c. 1848 - 1855

This paperweight was created by the Compagnie de Saint Louis and is now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Such an object connects to a wider social and cultural context of shifting tastes and collecting practices. The image creates meaning through visual codes that reference botany and luxury, both important to the aspirations of the rising middle class in 19th century France. We can consider how specific features of that culture, such as the growing interest in the natural sciences and the expanding market for decorative arts, might have influenced the artwork. The design, frozen in glass, speaks to a desire for permanence and control over nature. It reflects the institutional histories of glassmaking in France and comments on the social structures of its time, speaking to aspirations for an elevated lifestyle. The historian's role is key to understanding such an object, using research into social history and collecting practices to interpret its meaning as contingent on its social and institutional context.