Copperas 1922

Editor: This object, titled "Copperas," was manufactured by Stillbecks. It looks like a simple glass bottle, but the handwritten label gives it so much character. What do you make of it? Curator: It's intriguing how a mundane object can become significant when viewed through a socio-historical lens. Copperas, or ferrous sulfate, was crucial for dyeing textiles. Editor: Dyeing textiles? Curator: Yes, think about the power dynamics inherent in textile production, from enslaved laborers cultivating raw materials to the fashion industry's exploitation of garment workers today. This bottle represents that whole system. What do you think about that? Editor: I never would have made that connection. Thanks for sharing this perspective. Curator: It's about recognizing the interwoven histories embedded in even the simplest objects.