Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This paperweight, now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, was crafted by the Compagnie de Saint Louis. Enclosed within the smooth glass is a flower with purple petals and green leaves against a stark black backdrop. It's a curious object, a humble paperweight elevated through artistry. Who decided to capture this flower, and why? Perhaps to give a bit of natural beauty in an industrial age, or to bring the life of the garden into the formality of the study. Consider the intimacy of this object. It's meant to be held, to be felt in the hand, a small treasure sitting on a desk. The flower, rendered with care, speaks to the quiet, personal moments in life, where beauty is found in the small things we choose to keep close. It reflects a desire to carry nature’s beauty into our daily lives.