Paperweight c. late 19th century

This glass paperweight was made by the New England Glass Company, which operated until 1888. Paperweights like these were luxury items and were therefore considered status symbols. In the nineteenth century, glassmaking was a male-dominated field, with specific roles assigned based on gender and often ethnicity. Although women were sometimes employed in decorating glass, the more technical aspects of glass production were generally reserved for men, many of whom were European immigrants bringing their expertise to the United States. A vibrant glass industry was developed in New England due to its abundance of natural resources, and proximity to shipping ports for trade. This paperweight reflects the aesthetic preferences of the time, when ornate, decorative objects were highly valued. This simple object asks us to consider labor, immigration, and the gendering of craft in the 19th century.