Paperweight
c. 1848–55
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
58755
Art Historical Context
This elegant glass paperweight, crafted by the renowned Baccarat Glassworks around 1848–55, represents a pinnacle of mid-nineteenth-century European decorative arts. Produced during the height of the paperweight’s popularity in France, such objects transformed everyday desk accessories into miniature works of art. Measuring just under three inches across, this piece exemplifies the meticulous craftsmanship of Baccarat, a leading French glass manufacturer celebrated for its clarity and precision in crystal work. As part of the Applied Arts of Europe collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, ...
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...