"Log Cabin" pattern covered dish c. 1875

This covered dish in the shape of a log cabin was made by the Central Glass Company between 1867 and 1896, from pressed glass. The glass is clear, allowing light to pass through, highlighting the texture of the log cabin pattern, complete with a roof and chimney. The pressed glass technique allowed for mass production, making decorative items like this accessible to a wider audience. The surface of the object is embossed with faux bois details and the roof with linear patterns. The choice of the log cabin form is significant, evoking notions of frontier life, domesticity, and American identity. However, the transformation of a humble structure into a mass-produced, decorative item speaks to the changing social and economic landscape of the time, referencing industrialization and consumerism. This shifts the meaning of the object, drawing attention to the social and economic context in which it was made and consumed.