Handcooler c. 1848 - 1855

This is a handcooler made from glass by the Compagnie de Saint Louis. Its spherical form invites touch, a tactile experience enhanced by its smooth, cool surface. The interior reveals a complex, almost kaleidoscopic composition. Clusters of millefiori flowers are suspended within the glass, encircled by fragmented images and text. These elements are not randomly placed, but rather arranged to create a sense of depth and visual layering, drawing the eye into the heart of the object. The use of glass as a medium is particularly significant. It allows for transparency and opacity to coexist, distorting and refracting light. This play of light and shadow challenges fixed perspectives, mirroring the way meaning itself is always shifting, never entirely graspable. The flowers and text, sealed within the glass, suggest a desire to preserve and memorialize, yet their fragmented nature acknowledges the inevitable passage of time and the fragility of memory.