"Log Cabin" pattern creamer c. 1875

The Central Glass Company produced this "Log Cabin" creamer sometime between 1867 and 1896, crafting it from pressed glass. The clear glass, with its textured surface mimicking stacked logs, invites a tactile experience despite its visual coolness. Notice how the structure of the creamer, essentially a functional object, is transformed into a miniature architectural form. The horizontal lines of the 'logs' create a repetitive pattern, disrupted only by the vertical 'door' and corner 'beams'. This interplay between horizontal and vertical elements creates a sense of depth and containment, playing on the semiotic associations of 'home' and 'enclosure'. The choice of glass, a transparent yet solid medium, further complicates our understanding of form and function. The creamer challenges our fixed expectations, asking us to reconsider how everyday objects can embody complex ideas about space, structure, and cultural memory. Ultimately, this creamer is not just a container, but a carefully constructed symbol, inviting ongoing interpretation.