French Senate paperweight

The word “SENAT” in the center of the paperweight references the upper house of the French Parliament, the Senate (French: Sénat). France has a bicameral legislature. The Senate was established in 1799 and its seat is the Luxembourg Palace in Paris. The Luxembourg Palace is an ornate, French Renaissance-style palace. There are seven enormous statues of prestigious legislators and statesmen from the imperial period behind the Senate president’s seat in the Senate chamber. They face the chamber, as if reminding members of their duties. The official emblem of the French parliamentarian consists of a tricolor cap insignia surrounded by the Phrygian cap; the sword of justice; the bound axe; and the hand of justice.