Tumbler 1887 - 1896

Here we have a glass tumbler, created in the United States by Hobbs, Brockunier and Company sometime between 1863 and 1891. During this period, the American glass industry was rapidly industrializing. Glassware became more accessible, reflecting changing class dynamics as decorative items entered middle-class homes. But this was also the Reconstruction era, a time of immense social upheaval following the Civil War. While some prospered, many, particularly African Americans, faced systemic inequalities, with limited access to these new consumer goods. This tumbler, with its intricate hobnail pattern, speaks to both abundance and to the meticulous labor required to produce such an object. It invites us to reflect on who had the privilege to own and use it, and at whose expense such beauty was created. In its delicate form, it embodies the complexities of American aspirations and inequalities during a transformative period.