Nobody Knew What This Strange Glass Dumbbell Was

While some vintage kitchen items are updated with more efficient or popular designs, others have become obsolete and are no longer used. Meanwhile, many confuse people of today, just this glass dumbbell or knife rest.

Searching for Glass Dumbbell Information

A woman found a glass dumbbell in a drawer at her in-law’s house and didn’t recognize the mysterious and pretty piece. As such, she turned to the internet for answers. According to another woman who offered some background, the object is a knife rest, and her grandmother would set the table with them for formal dinner parties.

Glass Dumbbells Can be Hundreds of Years Old

Incredibly, the glass dumbbell is over 100 years old. It hit the market in the late 17th century and remained a popular kitchen accessory until the mid-19th century. Now, it’s an adorable piece of glass resembling “a baby dumbbell” that adds a touch of old-time charm to any kitchen.

Various Designs

The knife rest came in various colors and designs, all etched into glass pieces to make a set of decorative knife rests. One reason for such decorative pieces is that throwing parties and entertaining guests has been a prominent part of society but was particularly popular in the U.S. in the 1800s and 1900s. Therefore, kitchenware was more desirable in decorative sets, to add layers of ambience for party guests.

The Electric Knife

Unsurprisingly, the glass dumbbell is only one of many old kitchen items that hardly anyone today recognizes. For instance, an electric knife became popular in the mid-1960s, and within 10 years 1 in 3 American households owned the revolutionary kitchen item, intended to make chopping, slicing, and dicing easier and more time efficient.