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Columbian Exposition Paperweight

Specifications

Columbian Exposition Paperweight

Category

World's Fairs

Classification

CHENHALL - Tools & Equipment for Communication - Written Communication T&E - Writing Accessories - Paperweight

Object Origin
Manufacturer:

Lovejoy and Company

Artist:

Brisbois Photo

Date Manufactured:

c. 1893

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Glass half sphere paperweight with image of ferris wheel from the Columbian Exposition adhered to the underside. Image is sepia tone with a banner that reads "THE-FERRIS-WHEEL / WORLDS-FAIR-CHICAGO-1893" at the bottom. In the bottom left hand corner of the image is the text "BRISBOIS PHOTO." in quotation marks. On the back of the paperweight is a paper label with a paragraph of text containing various metrics about the ferris wheel. "OFFICIAL SOU...

Materials:

glass

paper

Marks: "LOVEJOY & CO., 79 DEARBORN STREET / CHICAGO"

Measurements: Object:
    Height: 0.75 in, Diameter: 3 in
    Weight: 0.425 lbs

Credit

Gift of Howard Rossen, 1993.44.667

Display Status

Not On View

Columbian Exposition Paperweight

About: Columbian Exposition Paperweight

About: Columbian Exposition Paperweight

This is a glass half sphere paperweight with an iconic image of the Ferris Wheel from the Columbian Exposition of 1893. A historic day in Chicago’s history was the opening of the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the New World. One of the lasting cultural contributions from the Exposition was the Ferris wheel. The wheel’s famous design came from George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., a structural engineer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He brought his idea to Daniel Burnham, the exposition’s leading architect, after Burnham requested an iconic structure that could rival the Eiffel Tower, built for the Exposition Universelle in 1889. The enormous steam-powered wheel rotated on 71-ton, 45.5 ft. long steel axle. The Bethlehem Iron Company manufactured the axle and was the largest steel axle to date. Once in operation, the wheel had 36 cars able to hold 60 people and offered fairgoers two 10-minute revolutions to a visual height of 258 ft. for 50 cents. The Ferris wheel became a symbol of the exposition, and like this clear glass paperweight, the wheel was pictured on various souvenirs for attendees to take home and commemorate their trip. After the exposition, the Ferris Wheel was disassembled and rebuilt in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The wheel operated in Lincoln Park from October 1895 until 1903. The wheel was then dismantled for a second time and transported by rail to St. Louis for the 1904 World's Fair. In 1906, the Ferris Wheel was destroyed by a controlled demolition and sold for scraps. Although the exposition’s original wheel was destroyed, other Ferris wheels were built at amusement parks and major landmark attractions, including the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier.

Additional information

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