Paperweight c. 19th century

This is a glass paperweight, made by the Compagnie de Saint Louis. Look closely. The central eye is surrounded by complex groupings of tiny glass rods, or ‘murrine’. These are arranged in spiraling rows, almost like miniature fireworks frozen in mid-explosion. The overall effect is decorative, but it also demonstrates amazing skill. To make this, artisans had to pull molten glass into precise canes, fuse them in cross-section, then arrange the elements while still hot. Such expertise was a point of pride for French glassmakers in the 19th century. At the time, glass was seen as a modern wonder material – a symbol of industrial progress. But objects like this also looked back to traditions of fine craftsmanship. The paperweight may seem like a simple trinket, but it neatly combines mechanized production with extraordinary handwork. This tells us that the best way to understand art is through the materials, the making and the context. When we look closely, it becomes clear that the distinction between fine art and craft begins to fade away.