Figure Dish

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this *Figure Dish* by McKee and Brothers (ca. 1880–90) captures the whimsy of late 19th-century American glass. Crafted from pressed opaque white glass—often called "milk glass"—the small dish (4 1/4 x 4 5/16 x 5 1/2 in.) likely features playful cat figures, evoking the Victorian fondness for animal motifs in household decor. McKee and Brothers, a Pittsburgh-based, were pioneers in affordable, mass-produced glassware, making elegant designs accessible to middle-class homes. The pressed glass technique revolutionized the industry, allo...