Claret Glass 1860 - 1870

Editor: Here we have a photograph of a Claret Glass by McKee and Brothers, dating roughly from 1860 to 1870. It's a simple glass, almost severe, with that pressed geometric pattern. How would you interpret its significance? Curator: From a materialist perspective, this photograph highlights the democratizing impact of industrialization on design. Pressed glass like this Claret Glass signifies a shift in modes of production, moving away from individually crafted luxury towards mass-produced, affordable items. What does this accessibility suggest about class and social aspiration in the mid-19th century? Editor: It sounds like anyone who wanted one could buy a fancy glass and feel like they were upper class. I suppose it devalues what it means to have nice things, and yet more people can have them. So who was working in these glass factories? Curator: Precisely. Now consider the labor involved. The rise of pressed glass depended on the exploitation of workers within industrialized settings. Understanding who manufactured these goods and under what conditions adds another layer to the object’s history, making the object much more complicated. Editor: So the photo seems to suggest more than just a drinking vessel! I hadn’t considered the people who made it or who would buy it. Were these common items back then? Curator: The widespread availability suggests their integration into middle-class domestic life, influencing dining customs and concepts of taste. Its very presence underscores complex changes in society. Is art really that simple or disconnected from ordinary life? Editor: Not at all! Thinking about the material conditions really complicates what at first appeared to me as a simple design object. Curator: Absolutely! By analyzing the means of production and social circulation of the glass, the artwork becomes more deeply connected to society and lived experiences.