Paperweight c. 19th century

This paperweight was made by the Clichy Glasshouse in France sometime in the mid-19th century. It's a beautiful object, but it's also an artifact of a specific cultural and economic moment. The Clichy factory, like other glasshouses of the period, was deeply embedded in the industrial revolution and the rise of consumer culture. These factories relied on technological advancements in glassmaking, as well as a growing market for luxury goods among the middle classes. The paperweight, with its complex arrangement of delicate glass flowers, speaks to the era’s fascination with intricate craftsmanship. These objects were luxury goods, and in some ways, commodities that offered an escape from the grim realities of industrial labor. Analyzing objects like these involves looking into the history of glassmaking technology, the economics of luxury goods, and the social values that made such objects desirable in their time. By studying these factors, we can better understand the complex relationship between art, industry, and society in 19th-century France.