Cup plate 1826 - 1830

Curator: Here we have a cup plate from somewhere between 1826 and 1830, currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The piece is of an unknown creator. It's an exquisite glass piece of decorative art. What are your first impressions? Editor: My first impression is one of intricate simplicity; it's all so detailed but on a humble scale. And, goodness, does this remind me of fairy tales and childhood teas! So delicate and yet almost stubbornly sturdy. Curator: Exactly, it is simultaneously delicate and, well, a testament to production and function. Consider the materials— glass, seemingly simple, but then imagine the laborious process of production at that time. Each one a product of intense heat, careful pouring, pressing into molds, likely produced in industrial quantities at the glass factories that sprang up in America from the late 1820s to 1850s. The repetitive patterns are themselves symptomatic of industrial methods. Editor: Right. And, stepping back into the land of feeling for a moment, you sense an entire life lived with, through, and maybe despite, this tiny plate! It feels like it holds light differently, the subtle variations telling silent stories. Does it suggest ritual? And why a plate specifically for holding cups? Curator: Yes! Tea culture during this period grew exponentially; it demanded specialized equipment to keep customs civilised. It also created intense hierarchies in American manufacturing industries, and labor specialization that increased class distinctions among producers and consumers. To me, such artifacts speak about so much in American History. Editor: Well said, the way function and material interweave with social meanings truly underscores its resonance! Now I'll always wonder who pressed their tea cup here and what were they discussing, all those years ago. Curator: Yes, exactly! That little bit of glass captures and refracts the essence of its era in its patterns. Editor: A beautiful synthesis, it has been a pleasure as always!