Cup c. 18th century

This petite cup was made by an anonymous artist, using glass. Consider the objects we use every day: a cup, a bowl, a plate. Whose hands made them and under what conditions? This delicate cup exists as both an aesthetic object and a functional one. This invites questions about labor, class, and access. For whom was this cup made? Was it for everyday use or special occasions? The mottled pattern is a kind of abstraction. We are left to wonder if the maker sought to mimic naturally occurring patterns such as those found in stone? Without knowing the maker, the cup invites a quiet reflection on the global history of artisanal craft. It reminds us to be attentive to the stories behind everyday objects.