Door handle c. 1845 - 1860

Curator: Look at this "Door handle," made sometime between 1845 and 1860 by the Clichy Glasshouse, here at the Art Institute of Chicago. The vibrant glasswork pulls you right in, doesn't it? Editor: It does! At first glance, it's a charming kaleidoscope of blues and these… are those snail shells arranged in a sort of cosmic dance? There's a whimsy that belies its age, almost like looking into an ocean dream. Curator: That "ocean dream" feeling isn’t accidental. Paperweights and decorative objects like this thrived in the Victorian era, emblems of luxury displayed in bourgeois homes, testaments to industrial prowess transforming everyday life into something beautiful. Editor: So it's not *just* decoration. There is that embedded history and the cultural narrative too, where objects tell tales about changing society—I feel this on so many levels. Do you have any particular level to explore it more from? Curator: Definitely! In Clichy, the glassmakers pioneered techniques, particularly in creating millefiori—those intricate, colorful patterns you see. And they kept their secrets closely guarded. Editor: Secrets...that makes the shells intriguing to think more about. To me they appear slightly discordant and they really challenge the idea that wealth equated with flawless taste; or did these provide access points for conversations among those fortunate enough to experience its luxury firsthand? Curator: Precisely! Their perceived flaw perhaps mirrors society's cracks under layers of finery or wealth during tumultuous years and yet now is a reminder of the time and patience invested into crafting objects we often take for granted as common accessories around houses today! Editor: Exactly! It reminds us objects like these exist across multiple temporalities, then present among status display backstories while ultimately asking where they end up being at any point across existence. In short words – "Who holds keys". Well... that's worth more thought isn't it? Curator: It certainly is. And for something small, its resonance is profound indeed!