"Jumbo"/Elephant covered dish 1883 - 1885

This covered dish was produced by the Canton Glass Company, which operated in Marion, Indiana between 1879 and 1899. The object is made from pressed glass, a technique which allowed manufacturers to produce vast quantities of glassware at relatively low cost. Notice how the glass is formed into a variety of textures: vertical ribs around the body, stylized leaves at the base of the handles, and of course the elephant on top, its surface delicately frosted. All of this was achieved not by hand, but through the use of molds into which molten glass was forced. Looking at an object like this, you can really see how the rise of American industry transformed the landscape of design. Pressing was a far cry from the rarefied craft of glassblowing. But it allowed for the production of affordable objects like this one, bringing new forms and textures into everyday life. Examining how it was manufactured helps us understand the social and economic context of its creation. It blurs the lines between factory production and design.