'Clichy Rose' millefiori glass paperweight
Object No. 2005/201/16
In 1953, Sydney collector, Annie Maria Gillies, bequeathed around 100 decorative art objects to the Vaucluse Park Trust, which later became part of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. In 1998, the Trust transferred this collection to the Powerhouse Museum. The greater part of this collection consists of around 80 examples of English porcelain dating from the mid eighteenth to the early nineteenth century. Among other objects is this fine glass paperweight made at the Clichy glassworks, one of the three great French glasshouses - the other being Saint Louis and Baccarat. Cristallerie de Clichy made a spectacular range of exquisitely crafted paperweights with millefiori and lampworked designs, particularly between 1846 and 1857 when it was managed by M Rouyer and G Maes. The firm's high quality, brightly coloured glass shown at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and at the Word's Fair in New York in 1853 brought international recognition and Clichy paperweights of the period are among the most highly regarded. Known from 1884 as Verrerie de Maes et Clemendot a Clichy, the glassworks ceased producing paperweights in 1885 when it merged with the Cristallerie de Sevres. Eva Czernis-Ryl, 2008
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Summary
Object Statement
Paperweight, millefiori, glass, Cristallerie de Clichy (Clichy glassworks), France, c. 1845-1860
Physical Description
Round, clear glass paperweight with 19 millefiori discs arranged in two rings placed around a pink and green rosebud (Clichy Rose) in the centre.
DIMENSIONS
Height
50 mm
Diameter
65 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Paperweights produced at the Clichy glassworks used boric glass. This metal is lighter in weight than lead glass used at Baccarat and St. Louis and causes the internal image to appear sharper. 'The glass factory Cristallerie de Clichy was founded under another name at Billancourt in 1837 and moved to Clichy, then a Paris suburb, two years later. By 1847, Clichy's paperweights were in staunch competition with Saint-Louis and Baccarat. About 80 percent of Clichy's paperweight production was millefiori weights made with numerous patterns and color combinations. Their colors appear richer than those of Saint-Louis or Baccarat... The famous Clichy rose (78.3.112), was made with flattened pink and white rods and was one of the company's trademarks.' From: https://www.cmog.org/article/19th-century-french-paperweight-makers accesssed 9 June 2020
HISTORY
Notes
Part of the Annie Maria Gillies collection, transferred from the Historic Houses Trust in 1998. The Clichy glasssworks was founded at Billancourt near Paris in 1837. Shortly after that it moved to Clichy-la-Garenne where it initially produced inexpensive glass for export. The most creative period was between 1846 and 1857 when the glassworks was managed by M Rouyer and G Maës. In 1884 the firm became Verrerie de Maës et Clemendot à Clichy. It ceased producing paperweights in 1885 when it merged with the Cristallerie de Sèvres.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Bequest of Annie Maria Gillies 1953, transferred from the Historic Houses Trust of NSW 1998
Acquisition Date
16 September 2005
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