Compote 1835 - 1865

This compote was created by the Redwood Glass Company sometime in the mid-19th century, out of molded glass. When you look at this delicate, translucent blue, you are witnessing the industrial revolution in action. Pressed glass like this allowed for the mass production of luxury objects, making them available to a wider public. Before mechanization, glassblowing was a highly skilled, specialized trade. The Redwood Glass Company, and others like it, streamlined the process, using molds and machines to increase output and reduce labor costs. The resulting glass isn’t quite as refined as hand-blown crystal. There are seams and imperfections that betray its origins. But these very qualities tell a story of ambition, innovation, and the changing landscape of American manufacturing. The object embodies both the democratization of design and the displacement of skilled labor, two sides of the same coin.