Paperweight c. mid 19th century

Editor: Here we have a glass sculpture, a paperweight from the mid-19th century by the Clichy Glasshouse. The intense blue is so striking, almost hypnotic. What stories can this little object tell us? Curator: It’s a beautiful piece. Consider the role of paperweights during this era. They became popular during a time when letter-writing and desk work were increasingly common among the middle class. They’re functional, yes, but they also became status symbols. Editor: So, they weren't just for holding down papers? Curator: Precisely. They signified access to literacy and the rise of administrative work. Glassmaking itself was becoming more industrialized, and these weights showcase a controlled display of artistry accessible to a broader public than fine art sculpture. They speak to democratization of art and culture through commodity. Editor: I see... it’s a tiny revolution in a sphere. The intricate design inside, does that hold any particular significance? Curator: While Clichy, and other glasshouses like Baccarat, were known for their millefiori designs - often abstract patterns - sometimes they did depict recognizable motifs. We'd need closer inspection to understand what those could represent, but given the rise of symbolism during the Victorian era, there's a high probability it may allude to something greater. What would you consider this motif representing if you saw this in a home of that time? Editor: I would probably believe that the owner was very intelligent, and proud of it. Thanks, I hadn't really thought about how an object like this could reflect social and political shifts in the mid-1800s. Curator: That’s the power of art history, isn't it? To find the big picture within the seemingly small. I wonder, if we were to make a paperweight today, what kind of symbolisms and societal references would you encase within the glass?