Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This glass paperweight was made by the Compagnie de Saint Louis. The clear glass sphere is internally decorated with delicate, colorful floral motifs, set within a cobalt blue and gold patterned surround. The Saint Louis glassworks, founded in France in the late 18th century, began producing paperweights like this in the mid-19th century. This was a time when decorative arts were flourishing, fueled by industrial advancements that allowed for the mass production of luxury items. Paperweights became popular status symbols among the rising middle class, emblems of taste and refinement. The motifs in the paperweight, while seemingly innocuous, speak to the values of the time: a celebration of nature, order, and beauty. As an art historian, I would look at trade records and exhibition catalogues to contextualize the glassworks output within the broader economic and cultural landscape of 19th-century France, understanding how institutions of art, taste, and commerce all shaped its production and reception.