Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This "Paperweight" is a small glass paperweight made by the renowned French glassworks, Compagnie de Saint Louis, sometime between 1845 and 1860. The paperweight features a detailed, hand-blown glass depiction of a basket of fruit, including pears and apples, created using the millefiori technique. This technique, meaning "thousand flowers" in Italian, was a hallmark of the company and involved arranging colorful rods of glass together and fusing them into a single piece, then cutting and polishing it to create a unique design. The piece, now housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, showcases the artistry and craftsmanship that made Compagnie de Saint Louis a leader in glass production during the mid-19th century.