Vase 1886 - 1888

This exquisite vase, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was crafted by the New England Glass Company, which operated between 1818 and 1888. The delicate pink fading into the bold fuchsia hints at the Victorian era's fascination with color, and the gilded fern pattern speaks to the period's romantic naturalism. But there's more to this vase than meets the eye. During this time the burgeoning middle class was eager to display its status through refined objects. Artisans, many of whom were women, would be hired to decorate these vessels with symbols of beauty. Consider the fern motif. In the Victorian language of flowers, ferns symbolized sincerity and fascination. Thus, this vase might have served as a token of affection, a subtle expression of sentiment in a society bound by strict etiquette. The vase transforms from a mere object into a vessel of human emotion and social exchange, reflecting how identity and emotions can be subtly performed through material culture.