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
188198
Art Historical Context
This exquisite glass paperweight, crafted by the renowned Compagnie de Saint-Louis around 1845–60, exemplifies the golden age of French decorative glassmaking. Founded in 1767 in Lorraine,, the company was a leader in crystal production, pioneering innovative techniques that elevated everyday objects into art. Measuring just 7.3 cm in diameter, this compact piece from the Art Institute of Chicago's Applied Arts Europe collection was designed to hold down documents in an era before widespread electric lighting and modern offices. During the mid-19th, paperweights surged in popularity across Eu...
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...