Paperweight c. 19th century

This paperweight, made by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, captures a world within clear glass. Its circular form, with precise geometric facets, invites you to peer into a microcosm of organized chaos. The green and white concentric circles draw the eye inward, creating a sense of depth that belies the object's small scale. At its center, the delicate white form seems frozen in motion, a study in contrasts against the speckled backdrop. The green, diffused throughout the glass, adds an organic touch, softening the geometric precision of the sphere. The paperweight challenges our perception of space, inviting a semiotic reading where circles represent unity and the central form suggests purity or transformation. It’s a captivating interplay between the natural and the constructed, inviting endless contemplation.