Hobnail Cheese Dish 1887 - 1896

This cheese dish was crafted by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company, sometime between 1863 and 1891. The glass is covered in hobnails, small, raised bumps all over its surface. Consider the curious recurrence of the dot motif across cultures and time. From ancient cave paintings to modern art, the dot has served as a fundamental element of visual expression. It might seem like a mere decorative choice, but the repeated hobnails invoke a sense of primal, tactile connection. Think of the Byzantine mosaics, their tesserae, like individual points of light, combining to form a larger, divine image. The dish has a similar all-over pattern that creates texture and diffuses the light. Such patterns engage viewers on a subconscious level. They recall the collective memory of our species. This humble cheese dish taps into something ancient. The dots, almost cellular, pulsating, remind us of life’s building blocks, resonating deep within our psyche. Consider how these hobnails might echo the artistic representations of the cosmos or the microscopic universe. They are symbolic of continuous cycles and rebirth.