Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This glass paperweight was crafted by the Clichy Glasshouse, sometime between 1837 and 1885. Enclosed within its glassy depths, we find a mesmerizing floral motif, a symbol that has bloomed across cultures and epochs. Here, the arrangement of delicate florets evokes the ancient symbol of the rosette, an emblem of the cyclical nature of life and death found in the art of the Bronze Age Aegean. Consider its resemblance to mandalas, whose intricate geometric patterns represent the cosmos and the self. These images are a testament to the human spirit’s search for meaning, each mirroring our innermost desire for completion. But notice also the subtle shift in meaning. This paperweight, mass-produced in a glass factory, also speaks to modernity. Despite this, it retains an emotional or psychological aspect, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level by evoking a sense of nostalgia. The past is never truly gone; it resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings.