Candlestick 1849 - 1860

This candlestick was made by Christian Dorflinger, who lived from 1828 to 1915. Dorflinger’s glassworks, established in the mid-19th century, catered to America’s burgeoning elite, an era marked by industrial expansion and shifting class structures. This object embodies the visual culture of its time. The candlestick's intricate cuts reflect light, its design referencing established forms of European luxury. Yet, its existence also speaks to the American desire to forge a distinct identity, to assert wealth and taste through consumption. These objects, adorning tables and mantels, served as silent declarations of status, embodying a complex interplay between aspiration and identity. Consider the hands that shaped this object, the laborers who transformed molten glass into symbols of refinement. It is in this tension between labor and luxury, that we see the contradictions of a society grappling with its own identity.