Creamer
after 1864
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
H. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
Classification
Cream pot
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.839
Art Historical Context
This elegant creamer, crafted by the Portland Glass Company after 1864, exemplifies the ingenuity of American glassmaking during the post-Civil War era. Standing at 7 inches tall, this pressed glass piece was designed for everyday table service, pouring cream into tea or coffee. Produced in Portland, Maine, the company specialized in affordable yet decorative glassware, reflecting the rapid industrialization of American manufacturing. Pressed glass, the creamer's medium, revolutionized 19th-century home goods by allowing molten glass to be forced into intricate molds under high pressure. This...