Paperweight c. 19th century

This is a glass paperweight, made by Saint Louis Glass Works, a French company. Although undated, paperweights like this were popular in the 19th century. The image inside the glass shows small, colorful flowers, which are probably meant to be violets. In the 19th century, floriography - the language of flowers - was a popular pastime. Different flowers were understood to represent different feelings or ideas, meaning that bouquets could be used to send coded messages. Violets could signify faithfulness, affection, or remembrance. The history of glass-making is deeply intertwined with industrialization and global trade. Saint Louis, like other glassworks, relied on skilled labor, technological innovation, and access to raw materials. Objects like this reflect the growth of consumer culture and the desire for beautiful, mass-produced items to decorate the home. To better understand the appeal of this paperweight, we might research the history of glass production, the symbolism of flowers, or the rise of consumer culture in 19th-century France.