Paperweight c. 19th century

This glass paperweight, crafted by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, features ripe cherries encased in clear glass. Cherries, emblems of temptation and sensual delight, have long been used to symbolize the duality of pleasure and caution. Consider the story of Adam and Eve: the fruit, often depicted as an apple, shares a kindred spirit with the cherry. Both represent knowledge, desire, and the loss of innocence. Yet, while the apple typically signifies a fall from grace, the cherry, especially in later Renaissance paintings, sometimes softens this narrative, hinting at a sweeter, less damning transgression. This duality is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The cherry, therefore, is not merely a fruit; it’s a vessel of cultural memory, continually resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.