Cup plate
1830–40
Medium
Pressed glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 10 cm (3 15/16 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83494
Art Historical Context
In the bustling households of 1830s America, this unassuming cup plate served a practical yet elegant purpose: a small saucer to rest teacups between sips, safeguarding fine table linens from drips and stains. Crafted during the height of the Early Republic era (1830–40), it exemplifies the democratized luxury of pressed glassware, made accessible to the growing middle class through innovative manufacturing. Pressed glass, the medium here, revolutionized American decorative arts. Molten glass was poured into detailed metal molds and pressed under high pressure, creating intricate patterns and...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...