Saltcellar 1870 - 1890

This purple saltcellar was produced by Challinor, Taylor and Company, an American glass manufacturer active in the late 19th century. Glassware like this was part of a broader shift in the social function of dining and entertainment. The industrial revolution had led to greater wealth for the middle classes, who began to emulate the customs of the aristocracy, one aspect of which was elaborate table settings with decorative wares such as this. These items signaled sophistication and refinement, but were now made affordable by new technologies. The floral designs evoke nature but here they have been subjected to mechanical reproduction. As art historians, we are interested in these objects as evidence for social and economic change, which we can trace by consulting period catalogs, newspaper advertising, and other documents that illuminate their original context.