Covered Figural Dish

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Covered Figural Dish*, from pressed amethyst glass around 1880–1900, exemplifies the ingenuity of American glassmaking during the late Victorian era. Measuring just over 8 inches long, its deep purple hue—achieved through manganese impurities in the molten glass—glows with a jewel-like translucency. The "figural" design likely features molded human or animal motifs, a hallmark of the period's decorative whimsy, adorning both the dish and its fitted lid for elegant table service or display. Pressed glass, pioneered in America in the 1820s, revolutionized household goods by allo...