Paperweight c. 19th century

This *Paperweight* was made by the Clichy Glasshouse between 1837 and 1885, and is now held at the Art Institute of Chicago. At just 2 1/2 inches in diameter, the intense detail and precise execution draws you in. The tightly packed concentric rings, formed by the arrangement of millefiori and the central rose, create an immediate sense of order. The pattern, encased in clear glass, is an investigation into symmetry and structure. We see repeated motifs—each a small universe of colour and form— arranged to create a larger composition that is both decorative and deeply considered. The colours, predominantly blues, greens, and pinks, are carefully chosen, reflecting the era's fascination with artificiality and the ability to manipulate nature into highly stylized forms. The paperweight’s structure invites us to consider the relationship between the part and the whole, between the individual element and the overall design. The Clichy Glasshouse challenges us to reflect on the ways in which we perceive and construct meaning through pattern and form.