Cup plate
1830–35
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 9.4 cm (3 11/16 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83411
Art Historical Context
This delightful cup plate, crafted by the Fort Pitt Glass Works in Pittsburgh between 1830 and 1835, exemplifies the ingenuity of early American glassmaking. Measuring just 3 11/16 inches in, it was designed as a practical yet decorative underliner for teacups, protecting tabletops from hot beverages during the cozy gatherings of 19th-century households. Produced in the Arts the Americas tradition, it's housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection. glass, the innovative medium here, revolutionized tableware production in the United States. Mol glass was poured into intricately carved ...