Ice Cream Plat
1878
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diameter: 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)
Classification
Ice Cream Plate
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Anonymous Gift, 2023
Accession Number
2023.94.5
Art Historical Context
Crafted by the illustrious American silversmiths Tiffany & Co. in1878, this *Ice Cream Plat* exemplifies the pinnacle of Gilded Age luxury. Measuring just 5¾ inches in diameter, this silver dish was designed for serving individual portions of the era's trendy frozen treat—ice cream, which had surged in popularity among the elite following innovations in refrigeration. Tiffany & Co., founded in 1837 by Lewis Tiffany, had by the 1870s established itself as a preeminent maker of fine silver, blending impeccable craftsmanship with innovative designs that catered to America's burgeoning industrial ...
About the Artist
Tiffany & Co. · 1837–present
Tiffany & Co., founded on September 18, 1837, by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City as a stationery and fancy goods store, quickly evolved into a premier American house for jewelry and decorative arts. Under Charles's leadership, the firm introduced innovations like the sterling silver standard in 1851 and the iconic six-prong Tiffany Setting engagement ring in 1886, establis...