Wine Glass

Art Historical Context

This delicate wine glass, crafted by Adams and Company between 1870 and 1890, exemplifies the ingenuity of American pressed glass during the Gilded Age. Standing just under 4 inches tall with a 2¼-inch diameter, its sunny yellow hue—achieved through the addition of metallic oxides—evokes the optimism of post-Civil War prosperity. Pressed glass, a revolutionary technique pioneered in the early 19th century, pouring molten glass into intricate iron molds under high pressure, enabling mass production of ornate designs that mimicked costly cut glass at affordable prices. Housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this piece highlights the era's industrial boom in places like Pittsburgh, where firms like Adams and Company thrived. It reflects Victorian tastes for functional yet decorative tableware, perfect for everyday elegance in middle-class homes. Donated in 1946 by Mrs. Emily Winthrop Miles, the glass stands as a testament to America's glassmaking prowess, blending utility with subtle artistry in a compact, cheerful form. Visitors can appreciate how such objects democratized beauty, turning the dinner table into a canvas of subtle luxury.

About the Artist

Adams and Company

Adams and Company was an American pressed glass manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose products exemplify the ingenuity and industrial ambition of Gilded Age glassmaking in the United States. The firm traces its origins to Adams, Mackin & Co., established in Pittsburgh in 1851; by 1861 it had reorganized as Adams and Company, operating under that name through 1891, when it became Fa...