In a bubble: The glittering history of French glass paperweights

Kya deLongchamps is mesmerised by early French glass paperweights

In 1851 The Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations was held at the Crystal Palace (Hyde Park) in London. It was a landmark event with 13,000 exhibitors and six million visitors intended to stir industrial co-operation between nations and to showcase the finest material achievements of each country.

Amid the agricultural machinery, cotton- loom demonstrations, furniture, textiles and musical instruments were some tiny French glass paperweights. For such minute gem like ornamental pebbles (as small as 6cm in diameter), they were to make a mighty impact on the arts and crafts scene.