Cordial glass c. 1870

Here we have a striking cordial glass set by an anonymous artist. The piece is a complex assemblage of materials—wood, glass, and metal. The structure is immediately arresting. The set is housed in a wooden box that opens to reveal an array of glass vessels neatly arranged, held in place by ornate metal supports. The glasses themselves, delicate and precise, are clearly designed to catch and refract light. The interplay of these different materials contributes to the artwork’s aesthetic. The glass offers transparency, contrasting with the wood which provides opacity and warmth. The overall effect is one of luxury, and excess. The arrangement of elements serves to create an object of display. The set becomes less about its function and more about the status it represents. The formal qualities, in their totality, prompt a reconsideration of utility. The artwork challenges fixed meanings. The piece is less a tool than a symbol.