Paperweight 1847 - 1850

This glass paperweight was made by William Leighton Senior, probably in the United States. It epitomizes the Victorian era’s fascination with both the natural world and with the novel effects that could be achieved through industrial processes. Consider its form: a transparent globe containing a riot of colorful, stylized flowers. Paperweights like this were luxury items, proudly displayed as signifiers of taste and prosperity. This paperweight is a testament to the artistry that glassmakers brought to industrial production. The United States at this time was rapidly industrializing, and institutions like museums and world's fairs played a role in shaping public taste and promoting American manufacturing. Paperweights like this are interesting to the cultural historian as examples of the kind of decorative art that was popular in a period that was undergoing rapid change. To understand this object better, you might want to research glassmaking techniques of the period, or delve into the history of decorative arts in America. You might also think about the social role of luxury objects in the 19th century.