Finger Bowl

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this delicate *Finger Bowl* by Christian Dorflinger exemplifies-19th-century Americanmaking artistry. Crafted around 1856–85, the small vessel—standing just over 2 inches tall and 5 inches wide—served a practical yet elegant purpose in Victorian dining. Guests would rinse their fingers in scented water after meals, especially when enjoying fruits or shellfish, reflecting the era's emphasis on refined table manners and opulent hospitality. Made of blown lead glass, the bowl showcases a masterful technique where molten glass, infused with lead oxide, is blown into shape for exceptional clarity, brilliance, and resonance. Dorflinger, an Austrian-born innovator who established a renowned glassworks in Pennsylvania, elevated American craftsmanship to rival European imports. This piece highlights the post-Civil War boom in domestic luxury goods, blending functionality with subtle sophistication. Gifted to the Met in 1978 by Mrs. Edwin M. Berol, the *Finger Bowl* invites us to appreciate the everyday elegance of 19th-century American life, where even the humblest table accessory embodied cultural aspiration and technical prowess.