Sugar bowl 1824 - 1835

This clear glass sugar bowl was made by the New England Glass Company sometime between 1818 and 1888. The sugar bowl is a fascinating object as it reflects a growing sweet tooth in nineteenth-century America. The rise of the sugar trade went hand in hand with the rise of abolitionism and the sugar bowl as a centerpiece in the American home, becoming a potent symbol of evolving social values and taste. The design of this bowl mimics the appearance of a log cabin. It has been speculated that this was in reference to William Henry Harrison's presidential campaign, which used the log cabin as a symbol of Harrison's connection to the common man. This is a fine example of how the cultural and political context can influence the production of even utilitarian objects like a sugar bowl. Through careful research of newspaper archives, company records, and historical accounts, we can better understand the complex interplay between consumer culture, political symbolism, and social reform in nineteenth-century America.