Paperweight 1845 - 1855

This exquisite paperweight, now held at the Art Institute of Chicago, was crafted at the Clichy Glasshouse in France sometime between 1837 and 1885. These glasshouses, as institutions, held a unique place in 19th-century French society. They were not merely factories but also centers of artistic innovation. The paperweight's design, with its myriad of colorful millefiori flowers, encapsulates the period's fascination with nature and the burgeoning industry's capability to mimic it. France in this era saw the rise of a wealthy bourgeoisie eager for luxury items, and these glasshouses catered directly to that demand. The perfection achieved in these pieces also speaks to the growing scientific understanding of materials during this period. To truly understand this object, one might delve into the archives of the Clichy Glasshouse itself, studying the social dynamics within the workshop. By understanding the institutional context, we can better appreciate the paperweight not just as a beautiful object, but as a testament to a specific moment in social and economic history.