Paperweight c. 19th century

The Clichy Glasshouse created this delicate glass paperweight sometime between 1837 and 1885. During this era, the Industrial Revolution had transformed glass production, enabling intricate designs like this single blue flower and green leaves encased in clear glass. This paperweight is more than a functional object, it is a symbol of a new era. Consider this object in the context of its time: as industrialization progressed, many felt a longing for the natural world. These glass flowers became a way to hold onto a sense of beauty. In a time of great social change, the paperweight, with its controlled, miniature world, is in some ways a symbol of this desire for order. It serves as a quiet reminder of the complex relationship between humanity, nature, and progress.