Cup plate
1830–40
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 9.2 cm (3 5/8 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83300
Art Historical Context
This charming cup plate, crafted in pressed glass around 1830–40, exemplifies everyday elegance from early 19th-century America. just 3⅝ inches in diameter, small saucers were designed to rest beneath teacups or coffee cups, drips during leisurely sips—a practical solution for the tea-loving households of the era. Produced anonymously by skilled glassmakers in New England factories, it reflects the burgeoning American glass industry during a time of rapid industrialization. Pressed glass, the innovative medium here, revolutionized tableware production. Molten glass was forced into intricate m...