Paperweight c. late 19th century

Editor: This is the "Paperweight" made by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, likely in the late 19th century. It's such a simple form, but the colors are so vibrant and cheerful. It makes me wonder about its place on a desk; a tiny glass world. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: This object speaks to me of hidden worlds and contained beauty. Consider the flower itself – blue and magenta, reaching for light within its transparent enclosure. Flowers often symbolize ephemerality, life's fleeting nature, and even mourning. Its presence in the glass signifies something permanent. Almost like an emblem frozen in time, hinting perhaps at Victorian-era floral symbolism or even sentiments of remembrance. Does it stir a memory or feeling within you? Editor: It makes me think of pressed flowers, how Victorians collected them for remembrance, almost trapping time within a scrapbook. So, is the paperweight acting like a sort of protective case for memory? Curator: Precisely! The glass becomes a kind of reliquary. Glass, though seemingly fragile, can preserve, magnify, distort, and shape how we view what's inside. In this instance, the bloom could signify treasured emotions. So we see something small reflecting wider ideas about beauty, mortality, and how people approached life. The placement of the paperweight—desk, table, dresser—transforms these domestic spaces into secular shrines, imbued with sentimental memory. Editor: I never thought a paperweight could contain so many complex ideas. It's far more than just something pretty to look at! Curator: Exactly. Commonplace objects can be vessels carrying stories, memories, and even the quiet hopes of those who came before. Editor: That’s given me a whole new perspective on everyday objects!