"Log Cabin" pattern covered candy dish c. 1875

This "Log Cabin" candy dish was made by the Central Glass Company sometime between 1867 and 1896. It’s a simple object, made of clear pressed glass. The form mimics that of a rudimentary log cabin. Its surface is decorated with a repeating pattern of stacked logs, and even the lid is shaped like a gable roof. Glass pressing was a major industry in America at this time. The technique allowed manufacturers to make decorative objects cheaply, and in large numbers. Note the little scoop accompanying the container; this would have been used to extract candies. This combination of industrial process and folksy form is no accident. It speaks to the tension at the heart of industrialization – a tension between handcraft and machine production. The "Log Cabin" candy dish reminds us that the decorative arts are not simply about beauty; they are also about labor, politics, and consumption. By understanding the relationship between materials, making, and context, we can appreciate the full meaning of this seemingly simple object.