Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This paperweight was crafted at the Clichy Glasshouse, its delicate flowers frozen in glass. Here, we see a violet and a thistle. The violet, a symbol of modesty and faithfulness, whispers of hidden virtues, recalling its use in ancient wreaths. The thistle, with its prickly defiance, boldly asserts itself as the emblem of Scotland, a guardian against invaders. Consider how floral motifs recur across epochs, from ancient Roman frescoes to Renaissance tapestries. Flowers, as transient symbols of beauty, death and rebirth, bridge the conscious and unconscious mind. This paperweight, with its careful rendering of these plants, reminds us that we are not so different from our forebears. The desire to capture nature's beauty is a timeless impulse, a perennial bloom in the garden of human experience.