Tumbler 1887 - 1896

This "Tumbler" was created by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company sometime between 1863 and 1891. The exterior is covered in glass bubbles. The "hobnail" design, as it is often known, is a surface of repeating spherical protrusions. These hobnails echo more ancient symbols and motifs. They are reminiscent of the raised bosses found on ancient metalwork, such as shields, which were meant to ward off evil and offer protection. In a similar vein, the fruit-like clusters covering the vessel might evoke the "pigna," or pine cone, a symbol of abundance and fertility throughout the classical world. Consider how these small, repeated forms create a tactile and visually stimulating surface. They engage our senses, stirring primal associations with protection, prosperity, and the endless cycles of nature. The humble tumbler thus becomes a vessel brimming with cultural memory, its simple form echoing symbols that have resonated through time.