Cup plate

Art Historical Context

This delicate cup plate, crafted from pressed glass around 1826–28, exemplifies everyday elegance in early 19th-century America. just 3 5/16 inches in, these small saucers were designed to cradle teacups, protecting wooden tables from heat and spills during social gatherings—a practical innovation for the growing middle class. Pressed glass, a revolutionary technique patented in the 1820s, allowed molten glass to be forced into metal molds, enabling mass production of intricate, affordable tableware. Previously, fine glass was hand-blown and elite; this method democratized beauty, flooding homes with patterned dishes from factories like those in New England. Though the artist remains unknown, the plate's survival highlights the artistry in industrial design. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the Americas department, this unassuming object reflects America's budding manufacturing prowess and cultural shift toward refined domestic life, bridging utility and subtle sophistication.