Cordial glass c. 1770 - 1790

This cordial glass of unknown date and authorship resides in the decorative arts collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Cordial glasses like this one were once commonplace, gracing tables at social gatherings and intimate dinners alike. The act of sharing a cordial carries a complex social significance. It signifies connection and camaraderie but also hints at the potential exclusions inherent in social rituals. This simple glass is a stage where narratives of hospitality, gender roles, and class distinctions were enacted. Who was invited to partake, and who was not? Consider the hands that crafted this glass and the mouths that touched its rim, this object becomes a vessel of shared experience. It’s a reminder that even the simplest of objects are deeply embedded in the social fabric of our lives.