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, allowing intricate patterns and shapes to be molded quickly and inexpensively, rivaling pricier cut glass. This opaque white variant, with its creamy, pearl-like sheen, was especially popular for tableware and novelties, symbolizing purity and domestic charm. Donated in 1946 by Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, the piece reflects America's Gilded Age ingenuity, blending industrial innovation with artistic appeal. Imagine cats perched playfully on your mantel—this dish embodies the era's blend of functionality and feline fascination, a purr-fect snapshot of everyday luxury!