Cake Plate 1870 - 1890

Editor: This is "Cake Plate" made by Adams and Company, sometime between 1870 and 1890. It’s made of glass. It seems like it represents such a bygone era of fancier gatherings, what strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: It's a fascinating object because it speaks volumes about Victorian-era social rituals. The cake plate elevated desserts, quite literally, placing them at the center of social gatherings and marking the host's affluence. Considering the broader history, can't you imagine the specific settings it inhabited – middle-class parlors striving for an air of gentility, showcasing culinary skills, and facilitating structured socializing? Editor: Absolutely, but it’s also just glass, so how fancy was this? I mean who bought this? Curator: That’s an astute question! This wouldn't have been accessible to the very poorest, but it's likely part of a broader aspiration among the burgeoning middle class to emulate aristocratic dining practices. Mass production of glass in the late 19th century meant decorative items like these were increasingly affordable and played a crucial role in defining new class identities. It marks the social aspirations made newly accessible through industry and new markets. Think of the rise of department stores and how they popularized objects just like this! Editor: So this wasn’t about cake at all, but social climbing? I guess that explains the meticulous glasswork! Curator: Partly! It represents a dance between utility and aspiration. These objects were stage props of Victorian society. Reflecting not just changing tastes but also the era's intricate class dynamics and industrial capabilities. How do you see the museum displaying this type of object today? Editor: Now that you say that, I see the curators are making an argument themselves putting this on display, what’s cake got to do with art anyways? Well, this really made me think about display and history! Curator: Exactly, it opens up great questions, it shows that every display argues about what matters. It did the same for me!