Paperweight c. 19th century

Editor: This is *Paperweight* by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, created around the 19th century. It’s made of glass and paper and lives here at the Art Institute of Chicago. It has a surreal feeling, and is so simple but has a very charming look. What do you see when you look at this? Curator: It's funny you mention "surreal." To me, this paperweight is a small encapsulated universe. Imagine the artisans at the Compagnie de Saint Louis, carefully crafting these tiny pears and leaves, suspending them in glass. It’s more than just decorative art; it's a captured moment, like a tiny, perfect snow globe but for fruit! Don't you find it delightful, how something so functional as a paperweight transforms into something precious? Editor: Definitely, and I appreciate that, it’s almost dreamlike. Looking at the leaves around the pears makes it look like there's air trapped. Curator: Precisely! The air bubbles enhance the depth, don't they? It's as if the fruit is gently floating. It adds a dimension of playful imperfection to this controlled world, as well as making me ponder about nature and industrial life combining during this time. Makes me think that maybe things were not as separate back then. Editor: That's interesting, so like there is less emphasis on the "made" element as opposed to something "found?" Curator: Perhaps, or perhaps something else entirely. But yes, those serendipitous bubbles and small flaws make this paperweight much more lovely to behold, like holding a little secret of history and ingenuity, literally, in the palm of your hand. Editor: Absolutely. Thanks, I never thought a paperweight could be so revealing! Curator: My pleasure. Art, even in its smallest forms, always has stories to tell!