Cordial glass c. 1865

These cordial glasses were made by the New England Glass Company sometime between 1818 and 1888, and they reflect the cultural values of the growing middle class. The elaborate cut glass and delicate etching are visual markers of wealth and sophistication. Owning such items was a way for families to perform their upward mobility, and glass manufactories such as this one were important institutions in the production of a burgeoning consumer culture. Mass production techniques and distribution networks made luxury goods available to a wider segment of the population than ever before. The glasses also speak to shifting social norms. Temperance movements gained traction in this era, concerned about the moral dangers of alcohol consumption. Cordials, often fruit-based and lower in alcohol content, became a more socially acceptable option. Understanding the design and use of objects like these is possible through the study of trade catalogs, social histories, and museum collections. Through such research, we can see the meaning of art as contingent on the social and institutional context.