Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

"Paperweight" is a small, intricate glass sphere created by Clichy Glasshouse, a renowned manufacturer of paperweights, during the mid-19th century. The paperweight showcases the "Millefiori" technique, where rods of colored glass are fused together and sliced to create intricate patterns. The piece features a central motif of overlapping green and pink rosettes surrounded by a ring of smaller rosettes in pink, white, and purple. This stunning example of Victorian glassmaking can be found in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.