Wine Glass 1850 - 1880

Curator: Well, I must say, my initial response is overwhelmingly… sunny. A cheerful little ray of sunshine solidified into glassware. Editor: Indeed. What we observe here is an example of the glass craftsmanship of the New England Glass Company between 1850 and 1880, a piece they simply called "Wine Glass", currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: Wine Glass... it's so understated, isn't it? Does it almost defy the inherent decadence one expects from decorative art? Like naming a symphony 'Music Piece Number 3'. The modesty has a certain charm. Editor: Function informs the form, which then dictates our perception of beauty, no? Note the vertical facets cutting into the glass, creating a sort of stylized tulip pattern. The eye is led upwards, accentuating the vessel's volume and its ability to contain, which is, after all, the *raison d'etre* of any glass. Curator: Those vertical cuts create such a captivating play of light; that's where my focus drifts off to anyway. I can imagine the sun catching it just so and casting dandelion shadows on a crisp linen tablecloth. Maybe a stolen moment, mid-afternoon... Or maybe a simple glass of ice water. See? It really depends. The glass itself almost becomes secondary. The event is the key player here. Editor: Are we then abandoning the principles of structural integrity in favour of sentimental fancy? Curator: Oh, not at all! Both inform one another, absolutely. The delicate balance! It only seems simple. It evokes possibilities, it sets the scene for those future moments! Is that not its purpose in the grand scheme of it all? Editor: A compelling perspective. Curator: Well, there is more to an artwork than meets the eye after all... Editor: Indeed.