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- Covered Sugar Bowl, 1874-1895 - Middle-class Americans in the late 19th century arrayed their dining tables with affordable pressed-glass tableware. These items, usually sold in sets, came in a wide variety of patterns, colors and styles. These decorative pieces -- like this sugar bowl -- communicated a family's status and taste to visitors and guests.

- 1874-1895
- Collections - Artifact
Covered Sugar Bowl, 1874-1895
Middle-class Americans in the late 19th century arrayed their dining tables with affordable pressed-glass tableware. These items, usually sold in sets, came in a wide variety of patterns, colors and styles. These decorative pieces -- like this sugar bowl -- communicated a family's status and taste to visitors and guests.
- Hallmark "Thimble Series: Partridge" Christmas Ornament, 1986 - Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

- 1986
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark "Thimble Series: Partridge" Christmas Ornament, 1986
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- Hallmark "Fruit of the Spirit" Christmas Ornament, 2007 - Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

- 2007
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark "Fruit of the Spirit" Christmas Ornament, 2007
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- "Teapot and Four Apples" by Carol Cohen, 1988 -

- 1988
- Collections - Artifact
"Teapot and Four Apples" by Carol Cohen, 1988
- "Big City Brand Mountain Bartlett Pears," 1940-1950 - In 1869, the transcontinental railroad opened eastern markets to the West Coast produce industry for the first time. As produce companies shipped crates of fruits and vegetables across the country, they needed a way to distinguish their goods from their competitors'. Colorful, eye-catching labels, like this one for Big City Brand Mountain Bartlett Pears, were created to attract grocers purchasing goods from wholesale markets.

- 1940-1950
- Collections - Artifact
"Big City Brand Mountain Bartlett Pears," 1940-1950
In 1869, the transcontinental railroad opened eastern markets to the West Coast produce industry for the first time. As produce companies shipped crates of fruits and vegetables across the country, they needed a way to distinguish their goods from their competitors'. Colorful, eye-catching labels, like this one for Big City Brand Mountain Bartlett Pears, were created to attract grocers purchasing goods from wholesale markets.
- Crate Label, "Pioneer Special Pack Brand California Pears," 1940-1950 - In 1869, the transcontinental railroad opened eastern markets to the West Coast produce industry for the first time. As produce companies shipped crates of fruits and vegetables across the country, they needed a way to distinguish their goods from their competitors'. Colorful, eye-catching labels, like this one for Pioneer Special Pack Brand California Pears, were created to attract grocers purchasing goods from wholesale markets.

- 1940-1950
- Collections - Artifact
Crate Label, "Pioneer Special Pack Brand California Pears," 1940-1950
In 1869, the transcontinental railroad opened eastern markets to the West Coast produce industry for the first time. As produce companies shipped crates of fruits and vegetables across the country, they needed a way to distinguish their goods from their competitors'. Colorful, eye-catching labels, like this one for Pioneer Special Pack Brand California Pears, were created to attract grocers purchasing goods from wholesale markets.
- Can Label, "Del Monte Brand Bartlett Pears," circa 1930 - Manufacturers of similar products sought ways to make their companies' goods stand out on store shelves. Some companies established a uniform label design for their multi-product offerings -- a strategy which helped customers distinguish one brand over another. Del Monte Brand products were identified by the company's characteristic green label and its signature "shield" logo. These design features are still found on Del Monte products today.

- circa 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Can Label, "Del Monte Brand Bartlett Pears," circa 1930
Manufacturers of similar products sought ways to make their companies' goods stand out on store shelves. Some companies established a uniform label design for their multi-product offerings -- a strategy which helped customers distinguish one brand over another. Del Monte Brand products were identified by the company's characteristic green label and its signature "shield" logo. These design features are still found on Del Monte products today.
- Hallmark "Partridge in a Pear Tree" Christmas Ornament, 1991 - Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

- 1991
- Collections - Artifact
Hallmark "Partridge in a Pear Tree" Christmas Ornament, 1991
Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.
- Trade Card for Pears' Soap, A. & F. Pears, circa 1890 - In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.

- circa 1890
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Card for Pears' Soap, A. & F. Pears, circa 1890
In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.
- Peachblow Pear Whimsey, 1880-1890 - Art Glass is ornamental and decorative glass dating from the mid-to-late 19th century through the early 20th century. Makers of Art Glass employed newly developed technologies for producing vibrant colors and surface textures. This is most famously seen in the iridescent surfaces of Louis Comfort Tiffany and his contemporaries, although Art Glass took many shapes and forms.

- 1880-1890
- Collections - Artifact
Peachblow Pear Whimsey, 1880-1890
Art Glass is ornamental and decorative glass dating from the mid-to-late 19th century through the early 20th century. Makers of Art Glass employed newly developed technologies for producing vibrant colors and surface textures. This is most famously seen in the iridescent surfaces of Louis Comfort Tiffany and his contemporaries, although Art Glass took many shapes and forms.