Paperweight c. 19th century

This three-inch paperweight was made from glass by the Clichy Glasshouse in France, sometime between 1837 and 1885. The glasshouse was one of several that specialized in paperweights during the mid-19th century, and Clichy’s millefiori designs were particularly prized. But what is the social purpose of such an object? Paperweights were luxury goods, of course, but they also reveal a new set of priorities. These glasshouses emerged in tandem with industrialization and the growth of the bourgeoisie. The paperweight speaks to the growing importance of written communication and record-keeping in the lives of middle-class professionals. It speaks to the rise of desk work. The historian can consult trade journals and company records to understand the market for such objects, and period novels and etiquette guides to understand their social role. This paperweight might seem like a small thing, but it reflects the economic and social transformations of its time.