Blown Glass - Pitcher c. 1940

Frank Fumagalli rendered this blown glass pitcher with graphite and watercolor on paper. With its ornate decoration, this pitcher is likely not an everyday object, but one intended for display, and it’s important to consider who might commission such a piece. Looking at the swirling motifs, we might guess it’s from the late 19th century, when there was a revival of rococo styles. Mass production was on the rise, but so too was a taste for handcrafted luxury items. Fumagalli may have been part of the Arts and Crafts movement, which sought to counteract industrialization by celebrating individual craftsmanship. To understand the pitcher's value in its time, we might research exhibition catalogues and auction records. By understanding its original audience, we can gain insights into how it was made, valued, and consumed.