About this artwork
This paperweight uses a traditional glass-making technique called millefiori to great effect. Italian for “one thousand flowers,” millefiori was first developed in fifteenth-century Venice. In the nineteenth century, French glassmakers revived the technique with a cultural twist. Arranged to evoke traditional French gardens such as the Tuileries in Paris, paperweights like this example brought a little of this landscaping magic indoors.
From the late 1840s to early 1860s, French manufacturers of fine glass and crystal—such as Baccarat (Alsace), Clichy (Paris), and Saint-Louis (Lorraine)—catered to the vast public enthusiasm for beautiful yet functional desk accessories. Paperweights, which were designed to secure loose papers against drafts, were among their most popular products.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Applied Arts of Europe
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Artist
- Clichy Glasshouse
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Title
- Paperweight
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Place
- Clichy (Object made in)
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Date
- 1840–1860
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Medium
- Glass
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Dimensions
- Diam.: 7.3 cm (2 7/8 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Arthur Rubloff
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Reference Number
- 1977.794
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/94419/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
