Paperweight c. 1846s

This glass paperweight, featuring a profile portrait surrounded by delicate floral motifs, was made by the Compagnie de Saint Louis. The production of paperweights in nineteenth-century France was a sophisticated art form and a commercial enterprise. During this period in France, the production of luxury goods reflected a burgeoning consumer culture and the rise of industrial manufacturing. Paperweights like this one were sold as decorative objects, capitalizing on the fashion for collecting small, beautiful items. The incorporation of a profile bust within this paperweight creates a sense of prestige and historical association, linking the owner to legacies of power and sophistication. Further research into the company’s historical records and the social context in which it operated would give us a clearer understanding of the cultural values that this object embodies. By exploring the archives of glassmaking, the economics of luxury goods, and the culture of collecting, we can gain a richer view of this object's cultural significance.