Paperweight c. mid 19th century

This paperweight was produced by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria. It’s made primarily of glass, but not just any glass. This would have been high-quality crystal, likely leaded for extra brilliance and weight. To create the paperweight, the glassmaker would have used a technique called lampworking, manipulating molten glass with tools and flames to form the portrait. Consider the skill involved in capturing Victoria’s likeness so precisely within the glass. The yellow color itself is achieved by adding chemical compounds to the molten glass. Now, think about the social context of this object. Paperweights like this were luxury items, emblems of status and taste in the 19th century. It speaks to the power of glass as a medium, capable of both reflecting and shaping social values. The paperweight challenges our assumptions about art, making us consider the cultural and historical significance of everyday objects.