Degas Little Dancer of Fourteen Years Museum Desk Paperweight – Glass Dome 3W

Museum Desk Paperweight with Degas’s Little Dancer of Fourteen Years

This elegant museum desk paperweight features a photographic image of Edgar Degas’s iconic sculpture Little Dancer of Fourteen Years "Le Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans". The young ballerina tilts her head slightly upward, her hair tied back, torso poised in her rehearsal bodice. Even in this close view, you can sense her mixture of discipline and vulnerability.

Beneath the smooth glass dome, the details of her face, shoulders, and costume are gently magnified. The curved surface gives the impression that she is stepping forward from the background, as if ready to take her place at the barre. This museum art paperweight brings one of Degas’s most famous ballet works to your desk, piano, or bookshelf in a compact, contemplative form.

Each paperweight comes in an elegant presentation box with sateen lining, making it a thoughtful gift for dancers, teachers, and ballet enthusiasts. As part of the Parastone Museum Gift Collection, it translates an important sculpture into a small object you can enjoy every day.

• Glass dome desk paperweight with image of Degas’s Little Dancer of Fourteen Years.
• Shows the young ballerina from head to torso in her rehearsal costume.
• Measures approx. 3 in W × 3 in L × 1.5 in H.
• Weight about 0.9 lbs, ideal for daily desk or vanity use.
• Comes in an elegant presentation box with sateen lining.
• Part of the Parastone Museum Gift Collection. PN PDEG2.

Degas, the Ballet, and the Little Dancer

Edgar Degas (1834–1917) is widely associated with his images of ballet rehearsals, orchestra pits, and dancers in motion. While many know his paintings and pastels, the sculpture Little Dancer of Fourteen Years became one of his most talked-about works. When it was first exhibited, it surprised viewers with its realism and its frank, unsentimental portrayal of a working student of the Opéra.

Rather than idealizing the dancer, Degas showed her as a determined young girl, standing patiently and holding her pose. On this Degas Little Dancer paperweight, that same expression is preserved under glass. The image captures both the seriousness of training and the quiet hope of a student waiting for her chance to perform.

About the Artist: Edgar Degas

Born into a prosperous Parisian family, Degas combined rigorous drawing skills with a modern eye for everyday life. He helped organize the first Impressionist exhibition but preferred to call himself a realist, focused on observation rather than mood. His dancers, milliners, and racehorses reveal how he used unusual viewpoints and cropping to make scenes feel spontaneous and alive.

The Little Dancer sculpture and related works remind us that behind every graceful performance lies years of practice. This museum desk paperweight is a small tribute to that dedication.

Pair with Degas Ballet Sculptures

This museum art paperweight pairs beautifully with our Degas-inspired figurines to create a ballet-themed display on a shelf, desk, or piano.

• Explore our full Degas collection: Degas Museum Gifts Collection
• Coordinate with our favorite replica of the sculpture: Little Dancer of Fourteen Years with Fabric Skirt (Large DE10) — complete with fabric tutu and bow in her hair.
• Pair with other Degas ballerina figurines or the Ballerina Dancer paperweight for a small grouping dedicated to dance.

Together, these pieces create a charming corner that celebrates the discipline, courage, and quiet focus of young dancers.

Curator’s Note

Many people see themselves in the Little Dancer—someone standing at the edge of the stage, practicing, waiting, and hoping. This art paperweight makes a meaningful gift for students, graduates, and anyone who remembers what it feels like to work hard for a dream.