Marmalade Jar 1870 - 1890

This Marmalade Jar was made out of glass by Adams and Company. Pressed glass like this, mass-produced in the USA from the mid-19th century onwards, speaks volumes about evolving social habits and economic shifts. It represents a democratization of luxury, bringing previously exclusive items into middle-class homes. Its hobnail pattern is a kind of cultural shorthand, alluding to hand-cut crystal without the associated expense. The rise of industrialization made such mimicry possible, blurring traditional class distinctions in access to consumer goods. A museum context transforms an everyday object into a historical artifact, inviting us to consider the politics of taste and the social conditions that shape our material world. By exploring trade catalogs, company records, and period advertisements, we can better understand the cultural values embedded in this humble jar.