Paperweight (3) - Glass

Three fully decorative paperweights, or wig balls, from the second half of the 19th century, probably French or English, unobtrusive.

The technique for manufacturing such presse-papiers is called cristallo-cérame in French. This production method, a blend of ceramics and glasswork, was popular in the 19th century with glass works such as Val Saint Lambert and Baccarat. The decorative figures were made from an opaque material, often a type of ceramic or porcelain. The figure was then carefully encapsulated in a ball of clear, solid crystal glass. The surrounding glasswork was further shaped by hand and placed on a distinctive hollow foot. The result is a fascinating object in which the figures are magnified through the glass, producing a three-dimensional effect.

In the 19th century these objects were sometimes also called wig balls because they strongly resembled the standards on which gentlemen of the more privileged circles displayed their white-powdered wigs. Moreover, despite their relatively modest height, these objects were often used at that time to support a wig. This was especially the case in densely populated cities, where the introduction of lead pipes for drinking water had a detrimental effect on hair growth, causing many men to revert to the 17th‑ and 18th‑century habit of wearing a wig.

The largest presse-papier features a finely executed image of a kneeling figure surrounded by various animals in a woodland setting. The design of the two other pieces is more figurative.
Condition report: These objects are in good condition and show no signs of visible damage.

Dimensions: Height: 19.00 cm (the tallest) and 14.50 cm (the two shorter)