The Paperweight Show: 100 unusual paperweights that push the boundaries of design

The humble paperweight has been an essential for any desk for over a century, holding down sheets of paper and stopping them from blowing away in a breeze. The first were made in the "classic" years between 1845 and 1860, origination from factories in France. But what about today?

All images courtesy of the artists. Via Creative Boom submission.

All images courtesy of the artists. Via Creative Boom submission.

A recent exhibition at the Fisher Parrish gallery in Brooklyn celebrated the antique device with 100 contemporary artists and designers redefining the small weighty object with their own unique and often wonderfully wacky creations.

Simply named The Paperweight Show, the exhibition of original small works featured artists such as Aaron Elvis Jupin, Andrew Ross, Chris Beeston, Elise Peterson, Huy Bui and Pat Kim. From recreated petrol cans to alien creatures, these artworks will surprise and delight.

Zoe Fisher from the Gallery said: "The paperweight is a small weighty sculpture to which we have ascribed one very simple function (a somewhat obsolete function today). From clearly 'designed' and functional works, to more conceptual explorations of a specific function, The Paperweight Show aims to engage both established and emerging artists and designers in an important dialogue – pushing your own disciplinary boundaries and allowing for a deeper understanding of the object."

Alex Reed

Alex Reed

Aria McManus

Aria McManus

Bruce M. Sherman

Bruce M. Sherman

Joey Watson

Joey Watson

V.V. Sorry

V.V. Sorry

Christopher Chiappa

Christopher Chiappa

Visibility

Visibility

Katherine Gray & Eric Huebsch

Katherine Gray & Eric Huebsch

Ladies and Gentleman

Ladies and Gentleman

Lazy Mom

Lazy Mom

Matthew Palladino

Matthew Palladino

Matthew Ronay

Matthew Ronay

Nick DeMarco

Nick DeMarco

Paul Wackers

Paul Wackers

Thaddeus Wolfe

Thaddeus Wolfe

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