Paperweight
Mid 19th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in.)
Classification
paperweight
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
187796
Art Historical Context
This exquisite glass paperweight from Baccarat Glassworks, crafted the mid-19th, exemplifies the pinnacle of luxury glassmaking. Measuring just 3 3/8 inches in, this compact object from the Art Institute of Chicago Department of Applied Arts of Europe a humble desk accessory into a dazzling work of art. Baccarat, founded in 1764 and renowned worldwide for its crystal, reached new heights during this era, blending industrial precision with artistic flair. In the 1840s and 1850s, paperweights surged in popularity across Europe, particularly in France, as a response to the Romantic era's fascina...
About the Artist
Baccarat Glassworks
Baccarat Glassworks, founded in 1764 in the Lorraine village of Baccarat, France, emerged from a royal decree by King Louis XV granting Bishop Monseigneur de Montmorency-Laval permission to establish a glass factory. Leveraging abundant local driftwood from the Vosges forest and skilled craftsmen, the works initially produced soda glass for windows, mirrors, and everyday stemware, employing thousa...