Cup 1865 - 1885

Alfred André crafted this cup out of glass, gold, and gemstones. André was a product of 19th-century France, a society undergoing rapid industrialization and stark class divisions. The cup, with its dark glass and ornate gold detailing, speaks to the era's fascination with luxury and the exotic. The use of precious materials reflects the opulence enjoyed by the upper classes, contrasting sharply with the labor conditions of the working class who produced these goods. This object embodies the complex relationship between art, wealth, and labor in the 19th century. It invites us to reflect on who had access to beauty and comfort, and at what cost?