Paperweight c. 1848 - 1855

This "Paperweight" is a glass paperweight, produced by Baccarat Glassworks in France, and dates back to c. 1848-1855. The paperweight features a multi-colored butterfly on a green leaf within a glass sphere. This intricate work of art is an example of the "Millefiori" ("thousand flowers") technique, where colorful glass rods are fused together and then sliced to create intricate patterns. The "Paperweight" is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago and measures 8.3 cm (3 1/4 in.) in diameter. This small paperweight shows the skill of Baccarat Glassworks and is a prime example of 19th-century French glassmaking.