-Longfellow jug- c. 1880

Editor: Here we have the Longfellow Jug, made around 1880 by George Wolliscraft Rhead. It's earthenware, a ceramic piece. It's a functional object elevated by a portrait and titles of works…it feels like early fan art. What is your read on it? Curator: It speaks to the popularization of literature and celebrity culture during the late 19th century. We often consider "high" art and "low" art separately, but this jug blurs those lines. Who decided to put Longfellow on a jug? Editor: Someone who wanted to sell more jugs? Curator: Precisely. Think about the growing middle class at the time. They had more disposable income and sought ways to express their cultural aspirations. Purchasing decorative objects like this, referencing literary figures like Longfellow, signaled a certain social standing. Editor: So it's not just about Longfellow; it's about the buyer projecting an image. Curator: Exactly. It raises questions about the commodification of culture. How did Longfellow himself feel about being used in this way? Was he complicit, or was his image appropriated? The choice of titles – Hiawatha, Evangeline – also speaks to the themes popular at the time, romanticizing the past and American identity. Do you notice the pattern of stars? Editor: They seem decorative, like generic patriotic symbols. Curator: They’re almost naive, aren't they? Consider the context of industrialization and mass production; objects like this became increasingly accessible, shifting art's role in society from unique craftsmanship to mass consumerism. It encourages reflection on who gets to define ‘art’ and for whom. Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn't considered it in that light. It shows how everyday items reflect larger cultural shifts. Curator: Exactly. Studying this jug allows us to better consider cultural, social and historical values embedded in common household objects.