Pressed Glass

Bowl, 1830-1835

Bowl (Vessel)

Candlestick, 1830-1845

Candlestick

Nineteenth-century American glassmakers experimented with new methods to create products for a growing consumer market. In the 1820s, pressing glass into metal molds by machine was perfected, and by the mid-1800s, manufacturers were creating a variety of inexpensive pressed glass housewares. America's middle-class consumers could now decorate their homes with attractive glass bowls, creamers, dishes, plates, vases, and even candlesticks.

Casket, 1830-1840

Casket (Personal gear)

This mold-made, pressed glass box was intended to hold a middle class lady's jewelry. It was made in the lacy glass technique, in which decoration covers the entire surface of the mold, and is raised against a background of small dots, to create a stippled appearance on the surface. The dots catch any ambient light, making the surface shimmer.

Compote, circa 1830

Compote

Compotes are all-purpose serving dishes. These usually footed bowls -- with or without lids or covers -- held special desserts, fruits, candies or sauces, jellies and other foods. Blown or pressed glass compotes provided a culinary presentation method suitable to 19th-century middle-class households.

Creamer, 1825-1840

Creamer

Decanter, 1850-1880

Decanter

Dish, 1825-1845

Dish (Vessel for food)

Mechanically pressed glass was an innovation in glass history, making decorative, "patterned" glass available to a broad audience. One of the earliest types of pressed glass, dating to the 1830s is known as "Lacy Glass". Complex stippled patterns were developed to help hide technical defects caused by early presses, when the glass gather was cut off and dropped into a mold.

Dish, 1830-1840

Dish (Vessel for food)

Lantern, 1835-1845

Lantern (Lighting device)

Window Pane, 1835-1850

Pane (Architectural element)

Mechanically pressed glass was an innovation in glass history, making decorative, "patterned" glass available to a broad audience. One of the earliest types of pressed glass, dating to the 1830s is known as "Lacy Glass". Complex stippled patterns were developed to help hide technical defects caused by early presses when the glass gather was cut off and dropped into a mold.

Syrup Pitcher, 1865-1870

Pitcher (Vessel)

Nineteenth-century Americans who could not afford refined white sugar found a sweet alternative with molasses or maple syrup. Syrup jugs or pitchers with their dripless metal pouring spouts held the slow-pouring, sugary liquid. These pressed or mold-blown glass containers became a common fixture on many middle-class Victorian Americans' tables.

Sugar Bowl, 1812-1830

Sugar bowl

Sugar Bowl, 1825-1835

Sugar bowl

Vase, 1845-1860

Vase

Vase, 1845-1860

Vase