Paperweight c. 1848 - 1855

This paperweight was created out of glass by the Compagnie de Saint Louis. Consider how such an object, both beautiful and functional, was a hallmark of the burgeoning bourgeoisie. The green orb, decorated with white and gold, centers on a snake poised to strike. Here, the serpent is not a symbol of evil, but rather of transformation, rebirth, healing and medicine. The color green can represent similar themes. The snake is a creature that sheds its skin, renewing itself. It is no accident that this symbol of resilience and change would become a fashionable adornment during a time of great social and political upheaval. The paperweight itself seems to contain its own world, as the snake navigates its own internal landscape of symbolism and power. It’s a reminder that even the smallest of objects can hold within it complex narratives of survival.