Very rare Clichy bouquet paperweight
276
A fine and very rare Clichy flat bouquet paperweight, mid 19th century
A tiny pink ribbon uniting the stalks of a floral bouquet set with a pink 'Clichy Rose' and a similar closed bud, a purple and yellow pansy also with a closed bud, and two thistles, all on a bed of appropriate leaves, 7.3cm diam, 5.4cm high (minor surface wear)
Estimate:
£15,000 - 20,000
€18,000 - 23,000
US$ 23,000 - 30,000

Footnotes

  • This distinctive bouquet paperweight features a curious arrangement of flowers that clearly proved popular at the time, for a number of very similar Clichy weights were created. The rose and the thistles presumably represent the union of England and Scotland, while the pansy is usually taken to be a symbol of love. It has been suggested that in the present grouping the Pansy also represents France and this paperweight may have been created during the Crimean War when Britain and France were allies.

    A very similar example, from the Collection of the late Baroness de Bellet, was sold in these Rooms, 19 May 2010, lot 21. A further example is in the Art Institute of Chicago. See the catalogue by Geraldine Casper, Glass Paperweights (1991), p.62, no.51. Another is illustrated by John Sandon, Antique Glass (2003), p.120. See also the example sold in these rooms 19 May 2012, lot 21. An example on a latticinio ground was sold at Sotheby's, 17 December 2003, lot 240.

Category: Decorative Arts / European Ceramics

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Contacts

Nette Megens Bonhams
Work
101 New Bond Street
London, W1S 1SR
United Kingdom
Work +44 20 7468 8348
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Specialist - European Ceramics