Although Richmond became the capitol of Virginia in 1779, the design for a new capitol building was not made until 1785…In his design, Thomas Jefferson united the lofty principles and grand scale of the classical tradition with established Virginia customs. He consulted major architectural treaties on Greek and Roman temples and then probably developed the idea for the capitol as a “temple” to Liberty or Justice. Charles-Louis Clerisseau, a celebrated architectural draftsman, persuaded Jefferson to shape the Capitol exterior on the example of the Masion Careeee at Nimes, which Clerisseau convinced Jefferson was one of the greatest Roman buildings. And now you have the chance to own a desk-piece that reflects the beauty and majesty of Jefferson’s project! This glass paperweight is an elegant work. Echoes of the Jeffersonian architecture emerge from the glass to create a misty, three-dimensional outline of the Capitol building. Beneath are the words: “Virginia State Capitol Building” and the state seal.