Paperweight
Mid 19th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 6.7 cm (2 5/8 in.)
Classification
paperweight
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
187808
Art Historical Context
This exquisite glass paperweight from the mid-19th century, by the renowned Compagnie de Saint-Louis, the pinnacle of French glassmaking during the Victorian era. Founded in 1767 in, France, Saint-Louis one of Europe's oldest crystal manufacturers, celebrated for its innovative techniques and luxurious tablewares. Measuring just 6.7 cm in diameter, this compact dome captures the era's fascination with functional yet ornamental objects, perfectly suited for the cluttered desks of the burgeoning middle class. The mid-19th century the golden age of paperweights, spurred by the 1840s invention of...
About the Artist
Compagnie de Saint Louis
**Compagnie des Cristalleries de Saint Louis**, founded in 1586 in Münzthal, Lorraine (present-day Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche, France), stands as the oldest glass manufacturer in France and the first to produce crystal glass on the continental European mainland starting in 1781.) Initially focused on window glass and bottles, the company shifted toward luxury crystal production in the 19th century. By...