Antique Westmoreland Cup Plate Bald Eagle 1831 Lavender Pressed Glass

An antique Westmoreland Cup plate featuring a Bald Eagle facing left in the center below a border of 5 stars and “1831” below the Eagle, with beautiful lacy sandwich detailing around the rim. This plate is lavender in color and is in excellent condition. There are expected imperfections found in early flint glass such as sand, bubbles, inclusions and striation.  Cup plates were used to protect furniture from marks left by tea cups by providing a coaster for the cup. The tea was often too hot and was poured into a saucer to cool before consumption. Tea cups, at the time, had no handles. In order to drink the tea from the saucer two hands were required which made it necessary to put down the cup. Cup plates provided a spot to put the cup, and were scattered about the parlor during tea parties.