Paperweight c. 19th century

Curator: What we have here is a stunning paperweight created around the 19th century by the Baccarat Glassworks. It’s held in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: It's dazzling! Like a miniature, self-contained universe with vibrant colours held perfectly in place. There's something so enticing about it, it captures both light and gaze. Curator: Indeed! The process of making these paperweights was quite intricate, a testament to skilled glassmakers’ labor. Each tiny element—the floral motifs in greens, whites and blues—was carefully crafted and then encased within layers of molten glass. Editor: Knowing the time period it came from, the opulence does come to mind in terms of bourgeoisie consumption and Victorian excess. Who would own such an item? What purpose would a nonessential ornamental artwork like this have other than an emblem of affluence? Curator: Good question. It highlights the blurring of lines between functional object and artwork. Paperweights emerged as decorative objects accessible to a growing middle class during that time period, fueled by industrial production. Consider too, the glassblowing techniques themselves—they were tightly guarded trade secrets passed down within workshops and communities. Editor: So much is enclosed inside. Does this represent the confining expectations, particularly placed on women in the 19th century? Encapsulated beauty, purpose determined by holding things down? Or am I reading too much into the obvious ornamental quality? Curator: Perhaps, but reading against the grain is crucial, isn’t it? One could also consider the materiality itself—the inherent fragility of glass mirroring societal fragility. Its production and distribution mirroring imperialist desires during a time when new industrial processes accelerated the growth of consumer markets. Editor: And now, safely encased in the white walls of the AIC… It certainly makes you think about the journeys of objects. How our understanding of them shifts according to our current cultural perspectives and means of accessing historical knowledge. Curator: Precisely. Analyzing objects like this opens avenues to considering production and reception, from the Baccarat workshops to present day gallery visitors like ourselves. Editor: A fascinating object and conversation. I can't help but keep gazing in… It still sparkles with stories to tell.