Paperweight c. 1848 - 1855

Curator: This beautiful "Paperweight" was crafted around 1848 to 1855 by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, here at the Art Institute of Chicago. What’s your immediate reaction to it? Editor: Like staring into a miniaturized world, almost like something out of Alice in Wonderland. The colors are so cheerful! Curator: Paperweights like this one were all the rage in the mid-19th century, serving both a practical purpose and adding a decorative element to bourgeois homes. These were not mere objects; they reflected an aspirational lifestyle. Editor: It makes you think about a bygone era, where desk work and daydreaming could coincide beautifully. But you have to admit it also has this sort of "grandmother's parlor" vibe? Curator: Certainly! They were prized possessions, displayed prominently. It is worth remembering that The Compagnie de Saint Louis was a prominent glass manufacturer that influenced trends widely in its time. Editor: Right. I can almost feel its smooth, cool surface and see the light refracting through the flowers. And there’s a kind of intentionality about its construction...it's both fragile and somehow weighty, in a way you can't say for paper ceramics! Curator: Quite right! Its historical significance really brings its aesthetic into fuller perspective; but the play of light with its intricate patterns is compelling, even detached from historical value. Editor: I concur. Even with an initial kitsch response, it carries a distinct creative power, both an invitation for intimate interaction, and, paradoxically, standing guard from the desk. Curator: Yes, these objects had a distinct public role through conspicuous display and ownership; the artistic achievement in its production also invites ongoing appreciation, now almost two centuries on. Editor: An interesting and curious object, indeed! Curator: Indeed!