Cup plate 1830 - 1840

Editor: Here we have a rather lovely object from the Art Institute of Chicago: an anonymous glass "Cup Plate," dating from 1830 to 1840. The delicate purple hue and the intricate, almost floral design pressed into the glass gives it a distinctly feminine feel, almost like a precious jewel. What speaks to you most when you look at this piece? Curator: Feminine, yes! It sings of parlors, and whispers of tea ceremonies. Notice how the maker uses light – that purple isn’t just colour; it's captured sun. It probably glimmered on some fine lace doily. But ask yourself, is it just decorative? Think about function. These little plates protected furniture from teacup stains. Did beauty distract from the everyday? Editor: That's an interesting point! So it’s both beautiful and practical? It’s funny to think about such an elegant little thing serving such a humble purpose. Curator: Precisely! Isn’t there poetry in that contradiction? To find the sacred in the mundane… Perhaps our anonymous artist understood the art of daily living more than we give them credit for. What about the material – this molded glass of a specific color? How did this anonymous artist feel about making an object that must both disappear into the table setting but must remain unique enough to catch the eye? Editor: I never considered the maker's intentions that deeply. I suppose, seeing it in a museum now, it’s easy to forget it was once simply part of someone's home. Now I see an entirely new dimension, thank you! Curator: The pleasure is all mine. A small treasure reflecting a lost world. Remember objects have stories. The humblest artifact can whisper symphonies if we lean in close enough to listen.