Celery Vase 1870 - 1890

Curator: Here we have a celery vase crafted by Adams and Company, sometime between 1870 and 1890. Editor: It's stunning! The first thing that strikes me is the light playing on all those tiny, raised circles. There's such a delicate luminosity to the glass. Curator: Precisely. The play of light is critical to understanding its aesthetic appeal. Notice the clarity and how it contrasts with the decorative textures, giving it that visual depth. Semiotically, we might view these textures as small acts of surface articulation. Editor: I’m fascinated by how the popularity of celery as a fashionable food item created a need for specialized vessels like this. Owning something like this meant you belonged to a certain class. What do we know about how Adams and Company reached its audience at the time? Curator: Adams and Company, like many glass manufacturers of that era, relied heavily on pattern books and traveling salesmen to showcase their wares. The mid-to-late 19th century was also a period of increasing industrialization, which had profound effects on middle-class consumption. Editor: So this vase wasn’t just about holding celery; it was about expressing societal status. It highlights the aspirational character of consumer culture taking hold at that time. Curator: It's a remarkable convergence of functional design and the social narratives of that era, isn't it? Consider how the transparency of the glass almost seems to invite us to scrutinize not just the vase itself, but also the customs that surrounded it. Editor: Ultimately, this seemingly simple glass object encapsulates complex conversations about wealth, taste, and industrialization during a transformative time in American history. Thank you! Curator: A fascinating lens through which to examine form and function.