Vase c. 1845 - 1860

Curator: Here we have a glass vase, believed to be made sometime between 1845 and 1860. It was crafted by the Compagnie de Saint Louis and resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Oh, my! At first glance, the inside has this cool kaleidoscopic feel – like peering into a hidden world! It looks… almost meditative. Curator: Its existence aligns with broader narratives of 19th-century craftsmanship and the rise of decorative arts. What sociopolitical climates might have contributed to this focus? The burgeoning middle class with disposable incomes meant increased demand for items such as these. Editor: Right! It's funny how this humble vessel hints at massive societal shifts, a total power re-alignment! Like, who got to enjoy beauty? And who was too busy just surviving? Curator: The materials are listed as glass and ceramic. So how do these physical characteristics inform its historical role? Editor: Mmm, the glass... it’s almost begging for light to dance within it! I imagine light filtering through colored liquids within this vase, or filled with dried flowers—things associated with display, decoration and a leisured life. The symmetry of the base makes it grounded despite its delicate material. Curator: Certainly, glass manufacturing speaks volumes about technological advances, but it simultaneously exposes labor inequities that occurred when such glass was produced. Was it affordable and accessible to all, or did it further entrench social stratification? Editor: So it becomes an object of pleasure but with uncomfortable questions attached, and who owned the vase impacts its function... Curator: Exactly! As an example of 19th-century decorative art, its beauty invites both appreciation and critical assessment. Editor: Okay, I feel conflicted, ready to cherish and to smash it all at the same time. Curator: Perhaps that push and pull, the simultaneous existence of beauty and injustice, remains this object's lasting message for our current age.