Cup plate 1830 - 1840

This cup plate, whose maker is unknown, is held at The Art Institute of Chicago. Its design is formed from pressed glass. Immediately apparent is the symmetry of the piece. The design features a central rosette encircled by a textured field, then an outer ring of hearts which define the edge. The pale green glass gives the piece an ethereal, almost ghostly presence. The structure can be understood using semiotic analysis, where each element acts as a sign. The hearts, traditionally symbols of affection, are here regimented into a repeating pattern, perhaps suggesting the mass production of sentiment in a consumerist society. The rosette at the center, while visually appealing, lacks depth and complexity. Is this a reflection of superficiality of industrial design? The very materiality of glass, fragile yet firm, speaks to the precarious balance between utility and beauty, function and form. Consider how the composition and structure of the cup plate not only serve a practical purpose, but also engage with broader cultural ideas about value and meaning. The piece remains open for interpretation, inviting us to question the values we assign to objects in our daily lives.