Trompe l'oeil fish in pressed glass c. 1870

This is a 'trompe l'oeil fish in pressed glass', a captivating piece playing with perception and reality. Two fish are rendered in stunning detail. Fish, symbols of fertility and abundance since antiquity, swim through the currents of human consciousness, appearing in ancient Roman mosaics, and Christian iconography. Notice the fish's mouth, caught in the other's jaws, as if locked in a final embrace. The image is emotionally charged, stirring primal instincts of survival and struggle. The fish motif has resurfaced throughout history, each time carrying the weight of cultural memory, evolving from a symbol of simple sustenance to one laden with complex psychological and religious undertones. This piece is not merely decorative, it is a mirror reflecting our deepest fears and desires.