Sauce Dish 1870 - 1890

Editor: This delicate glass sauce dish, crafted by Challinor, Taylor and Company between 1870 and 1890, has a fascinatingly gothic mood about it, like it belongs in a cabinet of curiosities. How would you interpret the imagery or symbolism in a seemingly simple piece like this? Curator: The deep amethyst color itself speaks volumes, doesn't it? Purple, for centuries, has been associated with royalty, power, and spirituality. That this dish, intended for something as mundane as sauce, is rendered in such a regal hue suggests an aspiration to elevate everyday life. Consider the rippled edge too – mimicking floral motifs, bringing nature’s bounty to the table, perhaps alluding to classical ideas about earthly pleasures and beauty. What cultural memories does it trigger for you? Editor: It makes me think about how even utilitarian objects can carry deeper meanings related to status and aesthetics. Was there a particular significance to using glass during this period? Curator: Absolutely! The mass production of pressed glass in the late 19th century democratized luxury. Suddenly, glassware that would once have been exclusive to the wealthy was available to a broader segment of society. This dish becomes a symbol of upward mobility and changing social dynamics, a physical embodiment of shifting class structures. Also, observe the form itself; raised on a foot. Does it have ecclesiastical features for you? Editor: Now that you mention it, the footed design, it kind of does echo a chalice, doesn't it? Almost sacramental… Curator: Precisely. It prompts reflection on how secular objects often borrow from religious iconography to imbue themselves with greater importance. Everyday things take on elevated meaning! Editor: It’s amazing how much can be gleaned from something seemingly simple as a sauce dish! I never thought about these things. Curator: These objects are laden with silent narratives waiting to be unearthed.