Toothpick Holder 1884 - 1893

This toothpick holder was made by the New England Glass Company, sometime in the 19th century. It is pressed glass, an industrial technique that was gaining popularity at the time. The diamond pattern, precisely rendered, speaks to the mechanization of glass production. Molten glass was forced into a mold, a process that allowed for complex designs to be replicated quickly and cheaply. Note how the thickness of the glass varies, pooling in the deeper recesses of the pattern. This is a direct result of the pressing technique. This toothpick holder is a humble object, yet it embodies the spirit of innovation and mass production that defined the era. It offers insight into how industrialization influenced aesthetics and consumer culture, blurring the lines between art, craft, and industry.