Pepper Caster
Medium
Pressed yellow glass
Dimensions
H. 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm)
Classification
Pepper caster
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.564a, b
Art Historical Context
This pepper caster, produced around 1888 by the Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Company, represents a charming example of late-nineteenth-century American tableware. Standing just over three inches tall, the small vessel was made from pressed yellow glass, a technique that allowed manufacturers to create affordable yet decorative household items for everyday use. Pressed glass production flourished in American factories during the Gilded Age, enabling intricate patterns and vibrant colors to reach middle-class homes. As part of the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing, the caster illustrates ...
About the Artist
Richards and Hartley Flint Glass Co. · 1867–1890
**Richards & Hartley Flint Glass Co.** Nestled in the heart of Pittsburgh's thriving flint glass industry, Richards & Hartley Flint Glass Co. was established in 1865 as a partnership producing pressed tableware. Founded by Joseph Richards, William T. Hartley, and John Wilson, the firm leased property on Locust Street near Pride Street, capitalizing on the region's abundant natural gas and skilled...