Hobnail pitcher 1887 - 1896

This "Hobnail" pitcher was made by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company in the United States during the late 19th century. Its delicate glasswork, carefully molded into a repeating pattern, suggests the aesthetic values of the Gilded Age. But the history of glass manufacture in the US tells a more complex story. The rise of industrial production led to new opportunities, but also to labor exploitation. Companies like Hobbs, Brockunier, and Company relied on immigrant labor, often underpaid and working in dangerous conditions. The hobnail pattern itself, while visually appealing, also speaks to the era's fascination with novelty and mass production. This pitcher, now displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, invites us to consider the social conditions that made its creation possible. By researching the company's history and the lives of its workers, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between art, industry, and society in 19th-century America.