Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This millefiori glass paperweight, created by the Compagnie de Saint Louis sometime between 1845 and 1860, features a vibrant bouquet of flowers. Made using the millefiori technique, which involves arranging colored glass rods together to create a cross-section pattern, the paperweight displays a stunning array of blues, reds, whites, and yellows. The intricate detail and vivid colors of the flowers make this small object a captivating example of 19th-century glassmaking. The paperweight is now part of the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago, where it is displayed as an example of the beauty and craftsmanship of the millefiori technique.