Mold for plate c. 1845

Editor: Here we have a "Mold for plate" from around 1845 by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company. It is made with glass and wood using carving and printing. The stark contrast between the delicate clear glass and the dark wood is captivating. What strikes you when you see this pairing? Curator: Well, I'm immediately drawn to the implications of industrialization here. Look at how this wooden mold dictates the form of countless identical glass plates. It shifts the artistic emphasis from individual creation to mass production, raising questions about value and authorship. The mold is as essential as the object that is cast by the process. How does the process of production relate to artistry and craftsmanship? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't considered the sheer scale of reproduction this mold enabled. Do you think that knowing the plate came from a mold makes it less precious somehow? Curator: Not necessarily less *precious*, but certainly less unique in the traditional sense. We have to confront the implications of that. This object sits at a crossroads: the decline of handmade artisanal work and the rise of factory production. These plates, affordable and beautiful due to mechanized methods, found their way into many homes. Editor: So, you are pointing out the role this glass plate played in shaping consumer culture at the time? Curator: Exactly! How was the aesthetic of these accessible plates impacted by production considerations such as mold making or materials acquisition, versus the artist's "hand?" These items democratized beauty while changing labor. Editor: It's incredible to think of this seemingly simple mold having such a significant impact on how goods were made, purchased and perceived! Curator: Absolutely. Examining the materials and processes opens up so much. I'll definitely view the objects of my everyday with a new lens going forward.