Egg Cup

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Egg Cup from the New Glass Company (active 1830–70) exemplifies the ingenuity of 19th-century glassmaking. Crafted from pressed glass and measuring 5 x 8¼ x 10 inches, it was generously gifted by Mrs. Emilythrop Miles in 194. Far more than a simple utilitarian object, this piece reflects the era's blend of functionality and ornamentation, designed for serving boiled eggs at the breakfast table. Pressed glass, the innovative medium here, revolutionized American household goods during the Industrial Revolution. Molten glass was poured into detailed metal molds and compressed under high pressure, enabling mass production of intricate patterns that mimicked expensive cut glass—at a fraction of the cost. The New England Glass Company, a pioneer in this technique based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, helped democratize elegance, making refined tableware accessible to the growing middle class. This Egg Cup captures the Victorian fascination with domestic refinement and American manufacturing prowess. It stands as a testament to how everyday objects became canvases for subtle artistry, bridging utility and aspiration in antebellum America. Visitors, imagine it gracing a period dining room, holding eggs fresh from the farm!

About the Artist

New England Glass Company · 1818–1888

**The New England Glass Company: Pioneers of American Flint Glass** The New England Glass Company was established on February 16, 1818, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, by a quartet of prominent local businessmen: Amos Binney, Edmund Munroe, Daniel Hastings, and Deming Jarves. Jarves, drawing on his dry goods background and talent for recruiting Europe's finest cutters, served as operational man...