Paperweight
c. 1848–55
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 9.2 cm (3 5/8 in.)
Classification
paperweight
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
54871
Art Historical Context
This charming glass paperweight from Baccarat Glassworks, dating to around 1848–55, exemplifies the pinnacle of-19th-century French craftsmanship. Measuring just 3⅝ inches in diameter, hails from the golden age of paperweights, when the burgeoning middle class embraced these functional desk ornaments as symbols of refinement. Baccarat, founded in 1764 in Lorraine,, rose to prominence for its flawless crystal, leveraging cutting-edge furnace techniques to produce vibrant, durable glass that captured light like no other. The paperweight's creation coincides with the peak of the classic French p...
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...