Paperweight c. mid 19th century

This paperweight was made by Baccarat Glassworks out of crystal glass, sometime in the 19th century. The firm was celebrated for its millefiori, meaning “thousand flowers” in Italian. Notice the intricate floral patterns arrayed around the edge of the paperweight. These were made by bundling together thin rods of colored glass, heating them until they fused, then slicing the resulting cane into cross-sections. This laborious process resulted in tiny, colorful components that could then be arranged in complex designs. The central image of St. Augustus would have been made in a similar way, or perhaps using a ceramic material embedded in the glass. Baccarat excelled at this kind of work, and the appeal of these paperweights rested not only on their beauty, but also on their ability to capture and concentrate light, making them into miniature optical devices. This paperweight reminds us that even everyday objects can be elevated to the level of art through skillful manipulation of materials and the application of painstaking techniques.