Paperweight c. 1846s

This 19th-century "Paperweight" by Compagnie de Saint Louis is a prime example of millefiori glasswork. The intricate design features a cameo-like profile in the center, surrounded by a circular border of colorful glass canes, referred to as "millefiori," meaning "thousand flowers" in Italian. This delicate technique involves fusing together rods of colored glass to create intricate patterns. The paperweight, now a part of The Art Institute of Chicago's collection, highlights the artistry and craftsmanship of the French glassmakers in the mid-1840s.