Figure Dish 1880 - 1890

Editor: Here we have "Figure Dish," crafted by McKee and Brothers between 1880 and 1890. It’s made of glass and depicts a turkey sitting on what appears to be a nest. It’s very…whimsical. What story do you think this piece tells, in its own way? Curator: I think you're right, the form is so specific as to tell a kind of narrative. Nineteenth-century American pressed glass like this served as accessible art for a growing middle class. We must remember, at this time art was becoming increasingly exclusive. Pieces like these provided decoration that referenced, but also diverted from fine art traditions. Why choose a turkey for the figure? What could that represent to a family? Editor: Maybe abundance? Turkeys are often associated with celebratory feasts. Curator: Exactly! And by displaying this in their home, families weren't just acquiring an object. It reinforced domestic values and national identity, referencing traditions like Thanksgiving through a decorative, yet functional object. Notice how the pressed glass medium allowed for mass production. Does that alter the status or intent of this artwork, in your mind? Editor: Well, it certainly democratizes it, making art accessible. But does mass production somehow lessen the value or message? Curator: That's precisely the debate of the time! It allows a broader audience to engage with art. Its value shifts from uniqueness to social participation and engagement. Editor: So, instead of being a purely aesthetic object, this turkey dish becomes a symbol of cultural participation. Interesting, it makes me see these mass produced objects in a completely different light! Curator: Exactly! Everyday objects became vehicles for shaping culture. Examining the material history shifts our perspective to include the broader audience which is what makes these pieces so special.