Paperweight c. 1878

This paperweight was made by Cristallerie de Pantin, a glass factory active in France during the latter half of the 19th century. Enclosed in clear glass, we see a snake coiled around a branch, surrounded by botanical elements. Snakes have long held symbolic weight across cultures, often embodying dueling concepts of healing and harm, protection and threat. Consider the historical and social context in which this paperweight was created. The late 1800s saw the rise of industrialization and scientific advancements, alongside burgeoning spiritualist movements. These movements celebrated nature and intuition, but also grappled with anxieties around modernity. With its coiling snake rendered in stunning detail, this paperweight is an example of how even an everyday object can hold a complex interplay of cultural meanings and anxieties. As you observe this object, what personal associations or emotions does it stir within you?