Paperweight
c. 1845/60
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 7.3 cm (2 7/8 in.)
Classification
paperweight
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
187997
Art Historical Context
This exquisite paperweight fromaccarat Glassworks, dating to around 1845–60, exemplifies the pinnacle of 19th-century French luxury production. Crafted in clear glass with a diameter of just 7.3 cm, it served a practical purpose—anchoring papers against drafts—while doubling as a dazzling desk ornament. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department Applied Arts of Europe, reflects the era's fusion of functionality and artistry. Baccarat, founded in 1764 in Lorraine, France, rose to international fame during the mid-1800s for its innovative crystal techniques, supplying royalty and elite...
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...