Covered Bowl 1882 - 1887

This covered bowl was made by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company, sometime between 1863 and 1891. This object connects to the transformation of American consumer culture in the late 19th century, when industrial production made decorative objects like this one widely available. Glassware companies like Hobbs, Brockunier and Company mass-produced decorative glass items that were both aesthetically pleasing and relatively affordable for the growing middle class. The bowl's design, with its symmetrical, repeating patterns, reflects the Victorian era’s fascination with ornamentation and display. It also relates to the rise of the department store and the increasing emphasis on domestic comfort and style. Understanding this bowl requires exploring the economic and social history of the period. By looking at trade catalogs, company records, and period advertisements, we can learn much more about the bowl as a commodity, and the social values it embodied.