Cup plate

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan of Art, this delicate cup plate from the Boston Sandwich Glass Company (182–30) exemplifies the of industrialized American glassmaking. Measuring just 3 5/8 inches in diameter, a petite pressed glass treasure, gifted through the bequest of Anne Du Pont Peyton in 1944. Crafted in Sandwich, Massachusetts—one of the nation's earliest glassmaking hubs—this piece reflects the post-Independence fervor for homegrown luxury goods. Pressed glass, the innovative medium here, transformed the industry by pouring molten glass into detailed metal molds under high pressure. This allowed for affordable, intricate designs previously reserved for cut glass, making elegant tableware accessible to middle-class households. Boston & Sandwich pioneered these techniques, producing thousands of patterns that blended neoclassical motifs with patriotic pride. Cup plates like this served a practical yet charming role: small saucers to catch drips from handleless teacups, protecting fine linens during social rituals. Today, they're prized by collectors for their whimsy and as emblems of America's manufacturing ingenuity, bridging utility and artistry in the early republic era.

About the Artist

Boston & Sandwich Glass Company · 1825–1888

The Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, a pioneering force in American glassmaking, was established in 1825 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, by visionary entrepreneur Deming Jarves, who had honed his expertise as an agent for the New England Glass Company in Cambridge. Jarves built the factory on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, incorporating it formally the following year with Boston investors. Drawing o...