Cup plate
1830–35
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 9.7 cm (3 13/16 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
82953
Art Historical Context
This delicate cup plate, crafted by the Fort Pitt Glass Works in Pittsburgh between 1830 and 1835, exemplifies the rise of American pressed glass during the early 19th century. Measuring just 3 13/16 inches in diameter, these small saucers were designed to hold teacups between sips, protecting fine table linens from drips—a practical innovation in middle-class households amid America's growing tea culture. Pressed glass, the medium here, revolutionized glassmaking with its use of metal molds and hydraulic presses, allowing mass production of intricate designs at affordable prices. Fort Pitt, ...