Saltcellar 1870 - 1890

This is a saltcellar made of pressed glass by Challinor, Taylor and Company, sometime between 1866 and 1891. It is an object that speaks to shifting social and cultural norms. During the Victorian era, decorative objects like this saltcellar became increasingly common in middle-class homes, reflecting a growing emphasis on domesticity and the performance of gentility. Saltcellars were table objects that indexed wealth, but also the increasing availability of consumer goods. The pressed glass manufacturing technique allowed for mass production, making items like this more accessible, thus blurring class lines. The object is decorated with botanical imagery, connecting it to the era's fascination with natural sciences. Such objects prompt us to consider how everyday items participate in broader narratives of aspiration, identity, and the democratization of luxury. The aesthetic pleasure in the object is connected to a desire for social mobility and cultural refinement.