Paperweight c. 1846s

This paperweight was made by the Clichy Glasshouse between 1837 and 1885, and it features a cameo of a man set within delicate swirls of color. Paperweights like this one were luxury objects, and this begs the question, who is the man immortalized within this glass? The cameo presents a European man of status; this would speak to the class of people who could have afforded such an item, and perhaps hint at the identity of the original owner. This paperweight is an intimate object, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and meant to be seen up close. It gives the feeling of holding a moment in time, stabilized in glass. How might owning such an item reflect on your own identity, or status? This delicate object, designed to be held, prompts us to consider themes of identity, wealth, and legacy.