Cup plate 1830 - 1835

This small, clear glass cup plate, whose maker is unknown, invites a dance of light and form. Notice how the circular shape, ringed with delicate glass bubbles, contains an embossed eagle, a symbol laden with national identity. The eagle, though, is rendered almost spectral, its form softened by the refractive qualities of the glass. Here, the medium is the message. The transparency of the glass could suggest openness, yet the density of the material and the sharp, repetitive pattern of stars and bubbles create a sense of enclosure. Consider how the structural elements challenge fixed meanings. The plate uses semiotics, with an eagle suggesting freedom, yet the glass imprisons that image. It invites ongoing interpretation, asking us to consider the interplay between material, symbol, and perception.