Cake Plate 1870 - 1890

Curator: Looking at this photograph of a “Cake Plate,” crafted somewhere between 1870 and 1890 and held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, makes me inexplicably happy. It feels so delicate! Editor: The craftsmanship is striking, certainly. Immediately, I’m drawn to the historical context—it’s more than just a pretty piece. This was likely produced during a time of increased industrialization and, thus, wider accessibility to decorative art objects. Who had access to it, who used it, and how might its presence have shaped or reflected societal norms surrounding wealth, domesticity, and leisure? Curator: I'd love to sit down with someone who lived then, put a giant cake on it—something utterly ridiculous—and see what they think! Seriously, look at that glass! There’s something about the way it reflects light that tickles my imagination. All of a sudden, it feels as though time’s become liquid. Do you think it was someone’s precious possession or just something for grand parties? Editor: Given the period and probable maker, Adams and Company, it signifies the Victorian era's growing emphasis on refinement, on appearances, and even performativity around food consumption. Mass-produced glassware meant aspiring middle classes could mimic aristocratic displays of wealth. So it represents aspirations, class distinctions, maybe even anxieties. How is identity wrapped up in everyday objects like this? Curator: The stem design seems so unique! A decorative departure that probably involved several skilled artisans—all collaborating on something so... joyful. Does that come through? Editor: Absolutely, but joy, for whom? Mass production often meant exploiting labor. So my “reading” of its artistry also acknowledges those inequalities and speaks to art as an intersection of power dynamics. We’re seduced by the craftsmanship while recognizing it embodies larger stories. Curator: Absolutely! And maybe that's the point of decorative art. Not just to look pretty, but to inspire storytelling... with, of course, cake. Editor: Precisely, a sweet starting point for a much more substantive reflection.