Paperweight
19th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in.)
Classification
paperweight
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
55137
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Applied Arts of Europe department at the Art Institute of Chicago, this delicate 19th-century paperweight from Baccarat Glassworks exemplifies the pinnacle of French luxury craftsmanship. Measuring just 4.4 cm in diameter, its petite form belies its role as both a functional desk accessory and a sparkling objet d'art, designed to hold down papers while dazzling the eye with crystalline brilliance. Baccarat, founded in 1764 and renowned worldwide for its superior crystal, reached new heights in the 19th century amid the Industrial Revolution's embrace of refined glassmaking. Pap...
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...