Creamer 1875 - 1880

This creamer was made by Bakewell, Pears and Company, using pressed glass. It’s not just any glass, it is ‘flint glass,’ a formula that contains lead oxide. Pressed glass emerged in the 1820s, and this creamer is an impressive feat, as the firm was one of the earliest manufacturers in the United States. The process involved molten glass being ‘pressed’ into a mold. This allowed for elaborate designs to be reproduced quickly and cheaply. Now, take a closer look and you'll see the refined details of the creamer. Notice the molded decoration on the body of the vessel, with its intricate patterns and scalloped edges. By manipulating the material in a mold, the maker has achieved a level of detail that mimics the appearance of cut glass. This reflects an ambition to democratize luxury. The creamer embodies a period of industrial expansion. By focusing on the creamer's materiality and method of production, we can appreciate the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.