Vigil Light 1885 - 1888

This glass was made by the Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Company, sometime between 1867 and 1890. Notice the clear glass punctuated by a pattern of raised circles, an effect achieved using a mold. The process involved gathers of molten glass being blown into shape, a skilled job requiring teamwork. Its decorative pattern is pressed into the glass as it cools. The resulting texture catches the light, giving the vessel an added visual dimension. The maker's decision to incorporate this subtle visual language emphasizes the object's construction, inviting us to consider its means of production. The glass industry was booming at this time, providing work for many, though laborers were subject to the demands of industrial capitalism. This object is a reminder that even functional, mass-produced items are imbued with the skills, labor, and social context of their making. It encourages us to reconsider the traditional divide between art and craft, questioning hierarchies of value.