Paperweight c. 20th century

This anonymous paperweight sits in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, its creation date unknown. This isn't just a functional object; it's a little universe of color and light, a reminder that the everyday can be extraordinary. Look closely at the base, at the way the red and white blend like a watercolor dream, then let your eye travel up through the dome. See how the confetti of blues, greens, and golds seem suspended in a sea of clear glass? And those bubbles, caught mid-creation, like little secrets trapped in time. Each element is distinct, yet together they create a mesmerizing whole. It’s controlled, but also a little chaotic. It reminds me of the work of Alma Thomas, her mosaics of color like gardens viewed through a kaleidoscope. And like her paintings, this paperweight invites us to slow down, to find joy in the simple act of looking, and to appreciate the unexpected beauty that can be found in the most humble of objects.