Finger Bowl 1883 - 1888

This dark glass finger bowl was made by the New England Glass Company, which operated for much of the 19th century. Think about the social rituals this bowl implies. It speaks to the act of cleansing, which is both a practical and symbolic gesture. Consider that as this bowl was being produced and used, practices of hygiene and etiquette were becoming increasingly linked to class and social status. In this sense, something as simple as washing one’s hands took on new layers of social and cultural meaning. Moreover, think about the labor required to produce such an object. At the time that this bowl was made, many glass factories employed immigrant workers and child laborers, who often toiled in harsh and dangerous conditions. So this bowl also stands as a testament to the complex relationship between labor, consumption, and social class in 19th-century America. The very act of cleansing can also symbolize social divisions.