Beaker (Ranftbecher) 1825 - 1835

This beaker was made in Vienna by Anton Kothgasser, using glass that has been wheel-cut and enameled. The contrast between the heavy base, with its complex diamond pattern, and the smooth, dark-enameled upper portion, emphasizes the way that glass can be worked in dramatically different ways. First, there's the physical labor of cutting the glass, which would have been done by specialists. Then there's the application of the enamel, which would have required a different set of skills. The decoration presents us with an idealized, almost fairytale image of nature. Consider the politics of the object: the division of labor in the production process; the skill involved in rendering images of luxury for the rising middle class. Ultimately, this beaker reminds us that even seemingly simple objects can reflect complex social and economic forces.