Egg cup
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Height: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
probably British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Frederick W. Hunter, 1913
Accession Number
13.179.35
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, this delicate glass egg cup from the 18th century the elegance of everyday British tableware. Standing just 3½ inches (8.9 cm) tall, it was designed to cradle a soft-boiled egg, transforming a simple breakfast ritual into a moment of refined enjoyment. Likely produced in Britain, where glassmaking flourished during this period, the object highlights the era's craftsmanship in creating functional yet beautiful household items. In the 18th century, British glass production advanced significantly, buil...