Salt Dish

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum Art, this delicate *Salt Dish* by George Duncan and Sons exemplifies late 19th-century Americanmaking ingenuity. Crafted around 1878–90, the petite vessel measures just 1 11/16 x 1 9/16 inches, perfect for individual salt servings at Victorian dining tables. Produced by Pittsburgh-based firm renowned for pressed glass tableware, it reflects the era's industrial boom, when factories like Duncan & Sons churned out affordable yet elegant household goods for America's growing middle class. The dish's glass medium highlights advanced molding techniques, allowing intricate designs—here, evocative faces as a decorative motif—to be efficiently replicated. These subtle facial elements add a whimsical, human touch to a utilitarian object, blending functionality with subtle artistry. In an age of mass production, such pieces democratized luxury, turning everyday meals into refined experiences. Bequeathed by Marguerite Raeder Laporte in 1991, this salt dish preserves a slice of American domestic life, showcasing how glass artisans elevated the ordinary. Visitors will appreciate its tiny scale and charm, a testament to the craftsmanship that defined Gilded Age homes.