Wine Glass 1850 - 1870

Curator: Here we have an exquisite "Wine Glass", crafted between 1850 and 1870. The maker was Bakewell, Pears and Company. The glasswork suggests a piece intended for elegant occasions, or perhaps for those who appreciated refined craftsmanship in their daily lives. Editor: Oh, my! It's like a tiny glass castle. See how the light bounces off those little, repeating geometric shapes? I feel like a fairy queen having a secret picnic. It gives off such a Victorian vibe; do you feel that, too? Curator: Absolutely. The mass production of pressed glass during this period made items like these more accessible, influencing table settings across different social classes. Owning pieces like this wine glass, even a single one, could suggest upward mobility or a desire for sophistication. Editor: So, this wasn’t just a drinking vessel; it was a social statement! I wonder what kinds of conversations this glass might have witnessed. Political debates over claret, maybe? Gossip over sherry? The intrigue of history bubbling away within the faceted surface… Curator: The craftsmanship reflects a society valuing ornamentation and presentation. Analyzing pieces such as this helps us see how industry and design intersected. Bakewell, Pears, and Company were particularly influential. Editor: To me, it’s beautiful, yes, but there’s also something delicate and almost melancholic about it. This little vessel represents times gone, don’t you think? I feel almost reverential as I think about the hands that carefully crafted this object – an evocative moment suspended in glass. Curator: I agree; the history contained within this glass makes me reconsider mass production as a democratizing influence rather than just the opposite. Editor: Absolutely, something as ubiquitous and essential as a simple wine glass becomes an artefact pregnant with sociocultural history – thank you for showing me that today!