Coca-Cola Bottle Caps

Coca-Cola company, 2020

Steel with a polyethylene lining

Dimensions variable

Personal collection   

Coca-Cola is a soft drink that was invented in 1886. The brand became so successful that its name is universal. In other words, whatever country one goes to, someone will know the brand. Coca-Cola has turned into a cultural phenomenon, partially due to its incredible advertising campaigns. For example, two of its most successful campaigns have likely led people to think of the drink every time they see a polar bear or think of Santa Claus.

The four bottle caps came to me after I asked and received them from my parents. They purchased the four-pack of glass Coca-Cola bottles at a supermarket in Canada. They highlight the sheer range of contemporary Coca-Cola paraphernalia available for purchase.  As well as such newer products available from Coca-Cola, branded vintage merchandise can also be found, pointing to the objects’ extensive history.  Today, glass Coca-Cola bottles are challenging to find in Canada where it is much easier to find them in a plastic form. Glass bottles are easier to find, however, in sites like Colombia and other counties in Latin America.

While these objects may evoke nostalgia for many aged 60 and over, such as the Baby Boomers, because Coca-Cola is such a popular drink, the artifacts also speak to the wide public for such products, whether they are young or old, rich or poor, in a wide range of countries. Whether through the lens of the company’s physical products or corporate face, the evolution and trajectory of Coca-Cola is tied to changing social and cultural shifts. As a result, these simple objects will always offer insight into particular historical moments and geographies, illustrating how collections in museums can mirror cultural phenomena.

Manuel Hederich