Stop van fles behorende bij olie- en azijnstel 1803

This bottle stopper was made by Fa. Diemont, probably in the Netherlands. Part of an oil and vinegar set, it hints at the rituals of dining and the presentation of food in a domestic setting. It speaks to the values of bourgeois life and an emerging culture of consumerism. The cut glass and silver suggest wealth and refinement, commodities for a rising middle class eager to emulate the aristocracy. The division of labor in the production of such an object is also relevant. The design, the glass blowing, the silverwork, and the distribution, all relied upon a complex web of social relations and economic structures. To fully understand the context of this piece, we need to consider design history, the history of glass and silver production, and the economic history of the Netherlands. These resources help us understand how art objects reflect the values, aspirations, and material conditions of their time.