Tumbler 1887 - 1896

This clear glass tumbler was created by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company, sometime between 1863 and 1891. This was a period of rapid industrialization in the United States, and glassmaking was no exception. The company, based in Wheeling, West Virginia, was known for its innovative use of technology and mass-production techniques. This tumbler, with its repeating pattern of raised bumps, is a perfect example of how industrial processes could be used to create visually interesting and affordable objects for the home. Looking at this object, we might ask ourselves about the role of design in a rapidly changing society. Was this tumbler intended to evoke a sense of luxury and status? Or was it simply a practical object, designed to be functional and affordable for a wide range of consumers? These are the kinds of questions that social historians of art seek to answer, using archival sources, trade catalogs, and other historical documents to shed light on the social and cultural context in which art is made and consumed.