Analysis of a Wine Flute and Its Role in German-American Culture
Caption: Wine flute, made of blown glass.
My research areas for the class “Germans in Missouri” include Cole, Cooper, and Moniteau Counties in Missouri. For my final object profile, I have chosen to analyze a glass wine flute that was brought from Germany to Boonville Missouri (Cooper County) during immigration to the United States. It is likely that the wine flute was made in Germany between 1820–1850. I assume it was brought over by a family in a set alongside other kitchenware and used for the consumption of alcohol (wine) in typical German-American traditions/practices. The glass is similar to typical wine flutes today but rather than a thin long stem, the bowl portion of the glass continues down and tapers toward the bottom. It also features a “cut base and blown body with [a] wheel-engraved rim.” This object was found in the text of “The Arts and Architecture of German Settlements in Missouri: A Survey of a Vanishing Culture,” a source utilized in my class and published by the University of Missouri Press.
Caption: Graph depicting European Ancestry in Cooper County and Missouri.
In Cooper County, where the wine flute was found, the largest ancestry population lies in German heritage at about 30.1%. This is notable because the traditions held by the large German population influenced the German-American culture and eventually even American culture. I chose this object specifically because it greatly relates to and represents the German-American culture. So, understanding German-American traditions such as drinking/crafting alcohol, beer gardens/wineries, and German Sunday culture is critical in understanding American culture today. By analyzing this wine flute, we can better understand its role in German-American culture and its influence on overall American culture.
Caption: Photo taken in 1909 of a German family enjoying a Beer Garden together.
German-American culture is heavily rooted in the production and consumption of alcohol. When many German-Americans immigrated to the U.S., specifically to Missouri, they practiced the production of alcohol such as beer, wine, and liquor. This led to the opening and ownership of many German breweries, wineries, and taverns. The consumption of alcohol was not just a form of celebration or tradition; it was a way of life for Germans. The translator of the novel “The Mysteries of St. Louis” remarks that, “the village tavern [was] the most common rendezvous for the people; there they meet on Sundays and in the winter evenings to discuss their private matters, their village affairs, the politics of the country, nay, even to criticize the last sermon of their village preacher, etc.” Additionally, the German way of consumption, beer gardens, differed from the traditional solitary saloon ways. The German beer garden was, “intended for families, [and] they were a direct contrast to the saloon’s male-only space. [They] were usually set outside, where families could sit and enjoy pleasant weather while listening to popular music and both men and women could drink beer. Couples could dance, young people could flirt, and children could play.” This drinking culture created jobs in wineries, taverns, and breweries and also solidified relationships between family and friends in the community. The wine flute represents German drinking culture because it was such a commonly used object in the consumption of alcohol in any setting.
German drinking culture wasn’t always appreciated by all as it was considered controversial by Anglo-Americans at the time. In fact, Sunday laws were created to prohibit the purchase or use of alcohol by anyone on Sunday. This was to deter Germans and others from drinking and gathering on Sundays (referred to as a German Sunday) and to promote the Christian Sunday as the day of worship and sabbath. Prohibition also heavily limited German-Americans’ ability to practice the German Sunday. This is because prohibition laws were set in place that banned the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol. These laws affected the culture and well-being of Germans all over the U.S. This is because the German drinking culture consisted of producing alcohol, owning bars, and gathering while consuming alcohol. Many Germans' jobs and businesses were at stake as “most of America’s largest breweries were owned by families of German descent — most [being] 2nd and 3rd generation Americans.” The use of the wine flute at this time would be controversial and also be somewhat prohibited as its use is associated with alcohol.
Though alcohol has been viewed differently throughout the culture of America, it has always been a staple in German-American culture. Its roots in German-American culture have allowed for the consumption of alcohol to be integrated into American culture today and is represented by the use of wine flutes past and present.
