Cordial glass c. 1870

Curator: Let's take a closer look at this "Cordial Glass", made around 1870, housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its delicate materials—glass and wood—speak volumes. Editor: Oh, my! It's like a luxurious secret garden in a box! Makes me feel like I’ve stumbled upon some miniature royal court's stash, doesn’t it? Curator: Indeed. It evokes a sense of concealed opulence. These objects, especially for the elites of that time, played significant roles in social rituals, reinforcing class distinctions through conspicuous consumption. What can we gather from its materials? Editor: The way the light filters through the crystal stoppers, contrasting with the warm tones of the wood—there’s this wonderful juxtaposition of fragility and groundedness, extravagance and restraint. Makes me think of the fleeting nature of pleasure. You can imagine the clinking of glass in an upper-class gathering… a tiny crystal orchestra! Curator: Precisely. The box serves not just as containment but as a stage. How would this function as a signifier in shaping or cementing someone’s social standing? Editor: Right! Think about the ritual around serving cordials from something so precious. Each pour probably felt charged, meaningful—like a toast to power or belonging. And these objects...They’ve lived so many untold stories! I can almost hear whispers of long-ago secrets and scandalous toasts from grand parlors. Curator: Absolutely. This isn't just a vessel; it's a time capsule filled with socio-cultural clues, an opulent narrative ready to unfold. The aesthetic decisions behind this drinking set speaks volumes of identity. Editor: Agreed. I'm leaving with a thirst, not just for a sweet cordial, but for understanding what seemingly simple objects can say about who we were and what we valued, then and now. It's pretty humbling, isn’t it?