"Log Cabin" pattern covered dish c. 1875

Editor: This is the "Log Cabin" pattern covered dish, crafted around 1875 by the Central Glass Company. It's made entirely of glass and it really captures the idea of the American frontier. What are your thoughts on the symbolism of such an object at this time? Curator: It's fascinating how everyday objects like this covered dish become potent symbols of national identity. In the late 19th century, the "log cabin" was deeply embedded in American political and social narratives, evoking images of humble beginnings and self-made success, often linked to figures like Abraham Lincoln. Given that the Central Glass Company produced this piece, how do you think its availability and function play into this narrative? Editor: That's interesting! Well, its widespread availability through commercial production meant more people could connect with that "humble beginnings" ideal. And being a covered dish – an item for the home – brings that narrative right into the domestic sphere. Was this also related to class tensions and maybe some people wanting to create a persona? Curator: Precisely. The choice of glass as a material is crucial. It allows the rising middle class to engage with symbols associated with the past, in an elegant, commercially accessible form. This seemingly simple piece speaks volumes about the cultural aspirations of a society undergoing rapid industrialization. Considering its display in a museum now, how does that transform the object’s meaning? Editor: That’s a great point. Now it also represents historical memory, and our interpretation of that time. Something about the tensions between the romanticism of the past, the realities of industrialisation, and class identity… fascinating stuff. Curator: Absolutely, this glass cabin, displayed in the Art Institute, presents a miniature history of America’s image-making, accessible through the careful curation and contextualisation. A humble object reflecting grand ideas, well captured!