Cup plate

Art Historical Context

This charming cup plate, fashioned from pressed glass around 1830–1840, exemplifies everyday elegance in early American homes. Measuring a modest 3 5/16 inches (8.4 cm) in diameter, served a practical purpose: protecting tabletops from the heat and moisture of teacups placed atop saucers during tea time, a cherished social ritual of the era. The medium—pressed glass—marked a technological leap in 19th-century America. Invented in the 1820s, the pressing process allowed molten glass to be forced into detailed molds under pressure, enabling mass production of affordable, intricately patterned tableware. Previously, such decorative items were hand-blown and costly; this innovation democratized beauty, reflecting the rising middle class's aspirations amid rapid industrialization. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the Americas department, this anonymous artisan's work highlights the artistry of utilitarian objects. Cup plates like this one, often collected today for their subtle motifs, offer a window into domestic life and the fusion of function with folk decorative traditions.