Paperweight c. mid 19th century

This glass paperweight was crafted by the Clichy Glasshouse sometime between 1837 and 1885, using lampworking and cameo techniques. The translucent red dome magnifies a white profile of Frederik VII, King of Denmark, created in cameo. Notice the crisp details achieved through lampworking, where glass is heated and manipulated with tools and torches. The cameo involves layering different colored glass and carefully carving away the top layer to reveal the image beneath. The processes involved demand considerable skill and time. Artisans would have undergone rigorous training to master these techniques, reflecting the era's emphasis on specialized labor. Paperweights like this were popular luxury items, indicative of the rising middle class and the availability of decorative objects during the Industrial Revolution. By appreciating the artistry and labor embedded in this small object, we can better understand how craft intersects with broader social and economic trends, blurring boundaries between the functional and the decorative, the mass-produced and the handmade.