Bowl 18th-19th century

This pressed-glass bowl offers an interesting window into the democratisation of design. Without knowing its date or origin we can still ask important questions about how it came to be made. Machine-pressed glass, as opposed to hand-blown, allowed for the mass production of decorative objects during the industrial era. Designs that would once have been exclusive to the wealthy could be replicated and distributed to a much broader segment of society. This seemingly simple bowl speaks to changing social structures. The original design could have drawn on older, more exclusive forms of glass work. The finished product makes that design newly accessible. To learn more, we might consult historical trade catalogues and museum collections. These resources provide us with an understanding of the changing landscape of design and consumption during this period of industrial innovation.