Beaker 1807 - 1835

This beaker was made by Ashbil Griswold, an American pewterer active in the early 19th century. Pewter, an alloy of tin with small amounts of other metals like lead, was commonly used for domestic objects due to its affordability. Notice the simple form, achieved by casting the metal into a mold, then lathe-turning the surface to refine it. The horizontal lines were likely cut using the same lathe. The slightly dull sheen of the metal, and its relative weight, give it a tactile presence despite its utilitarian purpose. Griswold and other pewterers operated in a world before mass-produced ceramics and glass became widespread. These beakers represent a kind of “everyday art,” handcrafted objects that brought a degree of refinement to daily life. The labor involved in producing them, from mining the tin to the final polishing, reflects a different pace of consumption than we know today, one where the value of objects was more closely tied to the effort required to make them. So, next time you drink from a mass-produced glass, consider the skilled labor and material awareness embodied in this humble beaker.