"Jumbo"/Elephant pattern cruet stand with three bottles 1883 - 1885

Curator: The "Jumbo"/Elephant pattern cruet stand, crafted by the Canton Glass Company between 1883 and 1885, holds court in our Decorative Arts collection. Immediately catching the eye is its charming whimsy. Editor: Absolutely. It's playful, almost like a miniature parade. The clear glass lets light through, creating a delicate effect that contrasts with the sturdy elephant-shaped base. What stories can this little object tell? Curator: Well, the name "Jumbo" is a clear reference to the famous elephant that became a global sensation after being sold to the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus industry and this sort of commercial collectible emerged simultaneously. Editor: The figure of the elephant already possessed significant symbolism before the popularization of Jumbo, though. Think of the animal’s connotations of strength, memory, and even royalty across various cultures. I imagine that lent quite a powerful undercurrent to the piece at the time. Curator: Exactly. The glass medium also hints at shifting cultural values. Mass-produced decorative items such as this allowed for the democratization of luxury, with aesthetic tastes more broadly shaped by industrial manufacture. The circus at the time held broad appeal, blurring boundaries in the social hierarchy. Editor: The bottles themselves—do they strike you as significant in any way? One seems distinctly different, crowned with what appears to be a different lid. Does this say something about how these objects were presented? Curator: Very observant! Cruet sets typically held vinegar, oil, and sometimes spices. The distinction is possibly meant to communicate which condiment it contained for easy identification. It is as much an act of practical design as decorative design. Editor: When you think about it, such items really tell a story of how the everyday routines of people in the past become precious pieces for us. This playful set, blending entertainment, commerce, and practical function, holds considerable layers of meaning and charm. Curator: Precisely. A playful piece, revealing social mores and the dynamics of popular entertainment. Its small size carries quite a significant weight.