Cup plate
c. 1830
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 7.8 cm (3 1/16 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
82725
Art Historical Context
In the bustling households of early 19th-century America the humble cup plate served a practical yet elegant purpose: small saucer to rest teacups between sips, safeguarding fine table linens from drips and stains. Dating to around 1830, this pressed glass example from the Art Institute of Chicago measures just 3 1/16 inches in diameter embodying the era's blend of everyday utility and decorative charm. Produced in the United States during a boom in domestic glassmaking, such plates were collectibles as well as functional items, often traded or gifted among families. Pressed glass, the innova...