Paperweight
c. 1846–55
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)
Classification
paperweight
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
58703
Art Historical Context
This charming glass paperweight, created by the Compagnie de-Louis around 184655, captures the elegance of mid-19th French craftsmanship. Measuring 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.) in diameter, it belongs to the golden age of paperweights, when these small domes transitioned mere office tools to coveted decorative treasures. Founded in 1767 in Lorraine,, the Compagnie de-Louis was a pioneer in crystal production, rivaling firms like Baccarat. During 1840s–60s "classic period" of paperweight-making, artisans at Saint-Louis perfected complex glass techniques—such as layering colored canes and encasing motifs...
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...