Paperweight c. 19th century

This glass paperweight was made by the Clichy Glasshouse between 1837 and 1885. Encased within a sphere of transparent glass, a delicate morning glory ascends, with its trumpet-shaped bloom. The background is composed of fine white latticino twists that converge and coil inwards to create a fascinating visual texture. The composition here plays with the distortion of space. The floral arrangement is not just seen, but perceived through the lens of glass. It is as if the flower is suspended in time and space, creating a paradoxical state of stillness and potential movement. The choice of glass as a medium is particularly intriguing, as it allows for both transparency and opacity, revealing and concealing aspects of the flower simultaneously. Consider how the work invites ongoing interpretation. It is a testament to the power of art to challenge our perceptions.