Elektrisch ei before 1867

This "Elektrisch ei" or electric egg, was produced by F.W. Funckler, as a device for use with Ruhmkorff machines. These were early induction coils, used for scientific demonstrations. The lamp is made of hand-blown glass, shaped into a delicate, egg-like form, and mounted on a turned metal stand. The making of this object involved a complex division of labor. Glassblowers, metalworkers, and electrical engineers each played a role. These specialist trades represented an increasingly mechanized world, driven by the demands of scientific progress and consumer desire. The price of 35 florins, mentioned in the catalog, speaks to its status as a scientific novelty, and the ways in which scientific advancement intersected with commercial interests. It is a reminder that even seemingly esoteric scientific instruments are tied to broader social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The making and marketing of this object challenges the distinctions between science, craft, and design.