Bread Plate
Unknown Artist, 1870–90
About this artwork
This elegant bread plate, crafted from pressed glass around 1870–1890, exemplifies the artistry of American tableware during the Gilded Age. Measuring 13 inches wide, it features a grape motif—a popular Victorian decoration symbolizing abundance and the fruits of the land. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this anonymous gift from 1980 offers a glimpse into everyday luxury for middle-class households. Pressed glass, the plate's medium, revolutionized American manufacturing in the late 19th century. Molten glass was poured into intricate metal molds and pressed under high pressure, creating detailed patterns that mimicked expensive cut glass at a fraction of the cost. Factories in places like New England and the Midwest produced thousands of such pieces, making ornate dining accessible during a time of rapid industrialization and growing consumer culture. Culturally, this bread plate reflects the era's emphasis on hospitality and decorative abundance. Grapes, often depicted in clusters with leaves and vines, evoked classical still-life traditions while nodding to America's burgeoning wine industry on the East Coast. A charming survivor of domestic life, it invites us to appreciate the blend of utility and beauty in Victorian America.