Celery vase 1820 - 1830

Curator: This elegant object is a celery vase, crafted between 1820 and 1830 by Bakewell, Page & Bakewell. Made of glass and residing here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, its delicate design initially makes me think of refined dining and early American ingenuity. What strikes you about this vase? Editor: I'm immediately drawn to its clarity and the precision of the cut glass. It’s clearly designed for display. But why celery? And how does its production fit into the bigger picture of American industry at the time? Curator: Exactly! Celery was a fashionable vegetable, a status symbol if you will, and required special vessels for serving. This vase reveals a lot about the burgeoning glass industry in the United States. Consider the labor involved in creating such intricate cut glass. How do you think the rise of American glassmaking impacted transatlantic trade or local economies? Editor: Well, I imagine it reduced reliance on European imports. Did this increased domestic production lead to new forms of labor or exploitation? The Industrial Revolution always had a dark side. Curator: Absolutely. This vase, seemingly innocent, hints at the social conditions and workforce required for its manufacture. We must question the origins of the materials and the conditions in which the artisans toiled. Do you think something like this blurs the lines between art and craft? Editor: That's a really interesting question. I mean, the vase clearly serves a practical function, but the level of detail elevates it beyond mere utility. Thinking about the skill and labor makes it artful. Curator: Precisely. By examining its materiality and the means of its production, we gain insight into a complex interplay of economics, social status, and artistic expression during this period in American history. Anything else that this piece inspires in you? Editor: It highlights how everyday objects can be valuable cultural artifacts and sources for asking larger historical questions about production and consumption! I'll definitely be looking at material culture with a more critical eye from now on.