Tree of life pitcher 1862 - 1885

This ‘Tree of Life’ pitcher, crafted by the Portland Glass Company, presents us with more than just a vessel. Its surface, teeming with a pattern suggestive of a tree of life, invites us to consider the deep roots of this symbol. The ‘tree of life’ motif, etched into the glass, echoes through countless cultures and eras. From ancient Mesopotamian art to the tapestries of medieval Europe, it symbolizes interconnectedness, growth, and immortality. Here, the tree is abstracted, geometrized; yet its essence remains potent. We see variations of this symbol across time, adapted and reinterpreted yet still recognizable. Its endurance speaks to a collective yearning for understanding our place in the cosmos, a visual shorthand for the profound cycles of life, death, and rebirth. The very act of drinking from this pitcher becomes a symbolic gesture, a participation in this age-old narrative. It is a silent acknowledgment of the past, a connection to those who have found solace and meaning in the image of the 'tree of life.'