Figure Dish 1880 - 1890

This is an opaque white glass "Figure Dish," designed by McKee and Brothers during the late 19th century, a period of rapid industrialization and evolving aesthetics. The piece, presenting a stylized owl perched atop a fluted dish, embodies the Victorian era's fascination with novelty and nature. The owl motif itself is intriguing, often seen as a symbol of wisdom, but also associated with darkness and the nocturnal. This duality might reflect the complex social landscape of the time, where industrial progress was shadowed by social inequalities and anxieties. Milk glass, popularized during this period, offered a pristine, almost ethereal quality, yet its mass production hints at the changing dynamics of consumer culture. Consider how the owl’s gaze seems to follow you, embodying both knowledge and a silent observation of societal shifts. The "Figure Dish" serves as a quiet commentary on the cultural values and contradictions inherent in the late 19th century.