Cup plate
1830–35
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 7.7 cm (3 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83425
Art Historical Context
This delicate cup plate, crafted from pressed glass around 1830–35, exemplifies everyday elegance in early 19th-century American homes. Measuring just 3 inches in, it served a practical purpose: as a small saucer to rest teacups between sips, protecting tabletops from drips and allowing hosts to admire intricate designs without interruption. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of the Americas department, this anonymous work highlights the democratization of decorative arts during a time of rapid industrialization. Pressed glass, a revolutionary technique pioneered in the United Stat...