This hidden gem was a delight. Our family (two older teens & two adults) visited the gallery on a weekday afternoon with no real expectations. The super knowledgeable staff made us feel welcome and shared great information about the different styles and techniques glass artists use in making paperweights. We ended up purchasing a paperweight after discovering to our delight that they had a few for under $100. Exploring the Arts Building itself was also fun. The elevators are still manually operated.

My wife and I recently purchased a fine glass antique paperweight from L.H. Selman Ltd. in Chicago to serve as a centerpiece for our extensive Civil War collection of rare and first-edition books, manuscripts, autographs, paintings and artifacts. Until we visited the Selman gallery and museum at 410 South Michigan Avenue, in the historic Fine Arts Building, overlooking Millennium Park and Grant Park and the nearby Art Institute of Chicago, we didn't have any knowledge about paperweights. In less than two hours, we received a thorough education. Selman is a name that has been synonymous with the finest antique and contemporary paperweights for over 40 years. It is the premier dealer in fine art glass paperweights in the United States and its mission is to promote the very best by exhibiting and selling through its gallery and at auction the finest examples made in past centuries and by nurturing new talent emerging from independent studios. It's a fascinating adventure, viewing the largest collection of antique and contemporary paperweights in the world. After it's over, you understand that a paperweight isn't a simple desk accessory. The origin of glass paperweights can be traced to France in 1845, when glass factories such as Baccarat, Saint Louis and Clichy were competing to create the world's finest crystal luxury items, including water sets, tableware and inkwells, then paperweights. Collectors range from kings and American presidents to writers and investors to Truman Capote and Arthur Rubloff. L.H. Selman was introduced to paperweights in the mid-1960s. He began collecting them, started a small mail order business, created a publishing company to distribute information about paperweights, then founded the International Paperweight Society and Museum on South Michigan Avenue. In 2001, he was named one of the Top Ten People of the 20th Century to influence the paperweight art form. In 2009, he sold his business to Mitch and Ben Clark. They picked up the torch--or the paperweight--and the Chicago art scene remains in sterling condition.

I was looking for a glass gallery as Google had called it. After speaking with a nice doorman who insisted it was the paperweight place I found it. Worth any trouble in finding it. The collections are the best I have ever seen, such intricate beauty is hard to find even in the glass world. Paul was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the pieces there. He also knows the Chicago art scene so was a wealth of knowledge for other interests as well. I highly recommend stopping by this small but mighty spot on Michigan avenue.

Without knowing, my family entered the Fine Arts Building near Grant Park in Chicago and found this awesome gallery of fine glass paperweights. There is a small gallery of such a collection inside the nearby Fine Arts Institute, but here we were able to hold a few sample in our hands. The sole curator at the time we were there was very knowledgeable and friendly, and she even handed us some related children's books! Totally recommend visiting this gallery inside the beautiful Fine Arts Building with its vintage manual elevators.

After visiting the remarkable paperweight collection at the Art Institute, we were delighted to stumble upon this beautiful little shop in the historic Fine Arts Building overlooking Michigan Avenue. Paul welcomed us in and told us all about the collection of pieces and how they were made, and could not have been kinder or more helpful in assisting us with choosing an affordable piece to take home to our own collection. He even emailed us after we left with biographical info about the artist who made our piece. I can see why this shop serves collectors from all over the world. If you are drawn to glass art, I would highly recommend a visit!