Hobnail Finger Bowl 1887 - 1896

Hobbs, Brockunier, and Company created this captivating finger bowl, its surface adorned with hobnails, sometime between 1863 and 1891. These raised bumps are not merely decorative; they evoke something primal. Consider how similar textures appear throughout history: the studded surfaces of ancient Roman vessels or the raised dots on medieval reliquaries. These tactile elements invite touch, engaging our senses beyond the visual. One might even recall the spotted patterns on animal hides, a prehistoric symbol of protection and power. The recurrence of such patterns across cultures and eras speaks to a deep-seated human fascination with texture and form. The hobnail pattern, seemingly simple, touches upon a collective memory, evoking feelings of comfort, security, and perhaps even a subconscious connection to our ancestral past. This humble bowl, therefore, becomes a vessel not only for water but also for the echoes of history.