Lamp 1825

This lamp was made in the United States in the mid-19th century by the firm of J. & I. Cox, combining glass, gilt bronze and wood. Its existence speaks volumes about the social and economic conditions of the time. The elaborate design and expensive materials indicate that this lamp was made for a wealthy household. The picturesque landscape painted on the glass shade reflects the romantic sensibilities of the era, and it would have functioned as a symbolic window onto cultivated nature. To truly understand this object, we need to look at institutional histories. In the 1850s, the US was experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to a growing divide between the rich and the poor. Decorative objects like this lamp served as status symbols for the upper class. Newspaper advertisements, trade catalogues, and probate inventories from the time can reveal valuable information about the social context in which this lamp was made and used.