Crystal box with cover (part of a set) 1848 - 1849

This elegant crystal box with a cover was made by Johann Bernhard Hertz, though we don't know exactly when. The lead crystal of the box would have been molten when first shaped, likely blown or pressed into form. Once cooled, the surface would have been painstakingly polished, and the silver cover added. The engraving on the lid brings a personal touch, suggesting it was perhaps a gift or a commission. Look closely, and you can see the interlaced monogram surrounded by delicate floral motifs. The box speaks to the rise of industrial production in the 19th century. Crystal glassware was a luxury, but increasingly available thanks to technological advances. Skilled glassworkers and silversmiths were still essential, but their labor was now part of a larger system of manufacturing and commerce. The box embodies both the beauty of handcrafted detail and the changing landscape of production. Objects like this remind us that even the most refined artworks are products of their time, shaped by social and economic forces.