Plate
Unknown Artist
ca. 1885
Medium
Blown satin green with white opaque glass
Dimensions
Diam. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Classification
Plate
Culture
British
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, 1946
Accession Number
46.140.230
Art Historical Context
This delicate plate, crafted around 1885 by an unknown British artist, exemplifies the refined glassmaking traditions of late Victorian England. Measuring just 5 inches in diameter, it features a blown satin green body overlaid with white opaque glass, creating a soft, velvety texture that diffuses light beautifully. The "satin" finish—achieved through acid etching or specialized firing techniques—gave the glass its signature matte, iridescent glow, making it a prized material for decorative tableware and ornamental objects during the Aesthetic Movement era. In the context of 19th-century Bri...