Vase 1883 - 1886

This glass vase was made by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company, a firm operating in the United States during the late 19th century. This object exists within a complex social and economic tapestry. The late 1800s was a period marked by industrial expansion, and the rise of consumer culture. Glassware, once a luxury, became increasingly accessible to the middle class. What was once a functional item has become a symbol of status and taste. The vase's form and color gradient—from deep red to amber—reflect the aesthetic preferences of the era, but also the changing demographics of consumers. As the market expanded, manufacturers like Hobbs, Brockunier and Company experimented with new techniques to appeal to a wider audience, including women and immigrant populations. Consider the hands that shaped this vase, the social contexts that defined its creation, and the lives it may have touched, as it speaks to the intricate relationship between art, industry, and identity in America's past.