Paperweight c. mid 19th century

This mid-19th century "Paperweight" by Clichy Glasshouse, a renowned French glassworks, features a white cameo portrait of a man set against a vibrant ruby red glass sphere. This technique, known as cameo glass, involves layering different colored glass and then carving into the surface to reveal the underlying color. The delicate carving and the play of light through the glass create a captivating visual effect, making this small object a beautiful example of 19th-century glassmaking.