Plate

Art Historical Context

This delicate plate, crafted by Christian Dorflinger around 1856–85, exemplifies the finesse of 19th-century American glassmaking. Measuring just 7/8 inch high and 6 1/16 inches in diameter, it was fashioned from blown lead glass—a medium prized for its clarity, brilliance, and resonant "ring" when tapped. Dorflinger, an immigrant artisan from Alsace who became a leading figure in U.S. glass production, specialized in luxurious tableware that rivaled European imports, often supplying elite clients including the White House. The blown technique involved gathering molten glass on a blowpipe, sh...