Cup plate 1830 - 1850

This anonymous cup plate was probably made in the United States out of pressed glass. Cup plates became popular during the 19th century with the rise in tea and coffee consumption. They were used to hold a cup while a person drank from their saucer, as the beverage was often poured into the saucer to cool before drinking. Given the era and the imagery, this particular plate may have had something to do with the rise of American nationalism. The central design features an anchor, surrounded by a ring of stars. We might ask: does this symbolize the importance of the American navy in protecting the expanding nation? Does it evoke a sense of maritime power and trade? Understanding the cultural significance of such an object involves researching the economic, political, and social history of the time, to better understand how symbols like these functioned within American society. In doing so, we can better understand the values and ideologies that were being promoted through everyday objects.