by Kris Kennedy

Created on: April 03, 2009   Last Updated: April 06, 2009

Antique Glassware a Look at the Past

Antique glassware offers inspiration for storytelling. You might have glassware that came from family members with stories you know and can tell and others might give inspiration for the design of your own stories.

Known Stories

When our loved ones leave, family members leave possessions and if fortunate, the stories of the items. Our own memories might remind us of the vase that held the flowers we brought from our gardens. Our memories might prompt remembrance of a memory of the bowl that served potatoes for every Sunday dinner. A cake pedestal maybe remembered as the center of all birthday celebrations or held a cake for the funeral gathering meal for a loved one. Many worry about using the items out of fear of breaking, but others say take the risk because the memories came from use and the one who left the item considered them as an aid to their entertaining skill. With these items, the stories grow. Many pieces of glassware tell of a history of humanity. How many people love the opulent colors of the Depression glass? We know the tough times when this glass entered our world. Tours of antique shows offers many pieces to add to our collections. The stories of carnival glass prompt many to think of their memories of carnivals.

The glassware from the Roman Exhibit from the Louvre intrigue visitors with the thoughts of centuries past and that then they also wanted color in their meals. We may know a little bit of the stories, but most likely, we will need to elaborate with our own made up stories.

Glassware as Inspiration

Just as people are inspiration for stories, an item can as well. We can look at the piece and attempt to visualize the circumstances that brought it to life. We might start with the item at the factory and then move through a lifetime of spaces and events shared with history. We might envision the type of person that would bring the item into the home or give as a gift.

The ancient items we have no choice since we do not know the people any longer. The person who enjoyed the piece is leaving their mark with the item, while we do not know of the person any longer. I guess this is what inspires people to be archaeologist. Maybe the archaeologist can use academic information to make inferences on the use, but we should not hesitate to envision our own stories.

Glassware that survives the year has stories to tell and create. Enjoy the items in this time, create the memories for the future, and enjoy the inspiration the items cause today.

Learn more about this author, Kris Kennedy.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.