Wine Glass 1882 - 1887

This wine glass was made by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company, a glass manufacturer that operated from 1863 to 1891. Glassmaking is both an art and an industry. This object is made of glass, but through a process of heating, molding, and likely some mechanized pressing, the molten material has been transformed. The ruby staining on the upper part of the glass shows us that skilled labor was involved. Glassblowing and glass pressing were major industries, and the work was often difficult and dangerous. Consider, as you look at the glass, that it is more than just a pretty form; it is also evidence of the complex relationship between design, labor, and consumption in the industrial era. It invites us to consider the human effort behind its making. Appreciating the craftsmanship can challenge traditional art boundaries, encouraging us to see the social significance embedded in everyday objects.