Cup plate 1826 - 1830

This delicate cup plate, now held at the Art Institute of Chicago, was made by an anonymous artist. Its creation speaks volumes about domestic life and social rituals. Imagine the 19th century parlor where this plate might have sat. As tea drinking gained popularity, so did the need for these small plates. They were designed as a resting place for cups, preventing spills and protecting furniture. But more than that, they were markers of middle-class aspiration and gentility. Consider the hands that poured tea, the conversations exchanged, and the social dynamics at play. Was it a space of female solidarity, or one defined by rigid class expectations? This plate invites us to reflect on how objects shape our interactions and reflect our social identities, even in the most intimate settings.