Compote in "Thumbprint" pattern 1850 - 1860

This clear glass compote, dating from 1850-1860, features a unique "thumbprint" pattern, a common design motif in American pressed glass during the mid-19th century. The piece, with its elegant, flared bowl and three-tiered pedestal, is a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the period. This anonymous work, currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, demonstrates the practicality and beauty of pressed glass, which was widely used for both everyday and decorative purposes in 19th-century American homes.