Bottle 1677

This bottle was likely made in Europe from glass, though we don't know exactly where or by whom. The glass has a beautiful green tint, a color achieved by adding metal oxides during production. Consider the process: glassblowing is a highly skilled craft, requiring years of training to master the manipulation of molten glass. The way the glass is blown influences its final form, its inherent qualities of transparency, weight, and sheen. The decoration was achieved through engraving or cutting the surface after the bottle had cooled. The labor-intensive processes of production give the bottle its social and cultural significance. Thinking about the bottle through the lens of material and making invites us to reconsider the relationship between functional objects, artistry, and wider social dynamics of production and consumption.