Paperweight c. 1845 - 1860

This paperweight was made by the Compagnie de Saint Louis, using lampwork techniques and millefiori. The design is created through layering molten glass, manipulating it into complex patterns. Each tiny floral detail, or murrine, is made individually, then fused together. The millefiori involves pulling canes of glass which are then cut into sections. The arrangement of these canes gives the paperweight its overall floral appearance, encased in clear glass. This requires a high degree of skill and teamwork. The company, based in France, would have had teams of artisans working together to make each paperweight; glassblowing is a social practice, with different people specializing in different aspects of the process. This highly skilled labor force would have been celebrated for their expertise. Objects like this sit at an interesting intersection, they are both functional and decorative, raising questions about craft and art.