Cup Plates: Early American Pressed Glass Saucers
Cup plates are small decorative plates, typically 3 to 4 inches in diameter, used during the early 19th century to hold a teacup while the drinker sipped from the saucer, a common practice of the era. Produced primarily in American glass factories between 1825 and 1860, cup plates represent some of the earliest examples of pressed glass manufacturing in the United States. They are among the most studied and systematically catalogued of all American glass forms.
History and Context
- 1825-1830: Earliest American pressed glass cup plates produced, coinciding with the development of mechanical glass pressing
- 1830s-1850s: Peak production period; hundreds of patterns created by dozens of factories
- Boston & Sandwich Glass Company: The most prolific manufacturer, located in Sandwich, Massachusetts
- Other producers: New England Glass Company, Fort Pitt Glass Works, Midwest factories in Ohio and Pennsylvania
- Post-1860: Cup plates decline as the custom of saucer-drinking falls out of fashion
- The Lee-Rose numbering system is the standard reference, cataloguing over 1,000 known patterns
Types and Patterns
- Historical subjects: Portraits of presidents, eagles, national symbols, and patriotic motifs
- Commemorative designs: Celebrating events like the completion of the Erie Canal, Henry Clay's campaigns, and the log cabin campaign of 1840
- Ship and transportation: Sailing vessels, steamboats, and railroad themes
- Geometric and floral: Sunbursts, hearts, scrolls, thistles, and flower baskets
- Plain lacy: Elaborate stippled backgrounds with geometric borders, characteristic of the lacy glass period
- Ceramic cup plates: Staffordshire transfer-printed examples also exist and form a separate collecting category
Identification Tips
- Reference the Lee-Rose catalogue number system for precise identification
- Lacy cup plates feature a stippled (dotted) background that gives a shimmering, fabric-like appearance
- Color is an important factor: most are clear, but examples in blue, amethyst, green, opalescent, and amber exist and are far more valuable
- Mold marks and seam lines help identify specific factories
- Examine the serrated or scalloped edges, which vary by pattern and aid in identification
Auction Price Ranges
| Item Type | Typical Range | Premium Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common clear lacy pattern | $20 - $60 | Scarce Lee-Rose numbers: $100 - $300 |
| Historical/patriotic (clear) | $50 - $200 | Rare subjects: $300 - $1,000 |
| Colored glass (blue, amethyst) | $200 - $800 | Rare colors: $1,000 - $5,000+ |
| Ship or transportation design | $80 - $300 | Rare variants: $500 - $2,000 |
| Staffordshire ceramic cup plate | $30 - $100 | American historical views: $200 - $800 |
| Extremely rare patterns | $500 - $2,000 | Unique or unlisted: $3,000 - $10,000+ |
Condition Factors
- Chips on the scalloped edges are extremely common and tolerated on lacy examples, though they reduce value
- Mold roughness on the underside is normal for early pressed glass and not considered damage
- Cracks through the plate are a serious defect and significantly reduce value
- Clarity and sharpness of the pattern impression affect desirability; weak strikes are worth less
- Color consistency matters; pieces with uneven coloration may be less desirable
Collecting Tips
- The Lee-Rose numbering system is essential for serious collecting; invest in the reference book
- Colored examples are exponentially rarer than clear; a single cup plate in peacock blue can be worth more than a dozen clear examples
- Historical and patriotic subjects generate the strongest collector interest and highest prices
- Sandwich glass examples dominate the market, but Midwest pieces have a growing following
- Cup plates are small and easy to display, making them popular with space-conscious collectors
- Reproductions exist, particularly of popular patterns; study mold characteristics and glass quality to distinguish originals