Hand Pressed Glass Cup Plate "The Sandwich Santa"

This Historical Reproduction Cup Plate features holly leaves and berries around the rim with Santa Claus perched on a chimney smoking a pipe in the field. The liner note reads as follows: "Edmund Chipman drew this amusing Santa Claus in the margin of a letter written December 17 1876 to his fiancée Lizzie Hatch. Born in Sandwich in 1855, Chipman began work for the glass factory as a decorator at the age of 16. When the glass works closed in 1888 he went to Newark NJ to open his own decorating business but died in 1889 at the age of 34." This is cup plate #188 in the Pairpoint Catalog, struck in 1982.

Measuring 3.5" in diameter, this cup plate was made by hand using a glass press and hand carved pressing mold, following the same process used for cup plate production in the 19th century.

1825 - 2025 Bicentennial Celebration: in 2025 the Sandwich Historical Society is celebrating 200 years of glass making in Sandwich, by offering for sale a collection of vintage reproduction cup plates. Proceeds from cup plate sales go directly to fund the special events and services offered as part of our 2025 bi-centennial celebration. We thank you for your support of the Sandwich Historical Society and its Glass Museum! 

Glassmaking in Sandwich, MA, began in 1825 with the establishment of the Sandwich Glass Manufactory by Deming Jarves, a Boston entrepreneur. The factory was reincorporated in 1826 as the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, and manufactured glassware until 1887.  

Cup Plates were commonly used in the early 19th century. Teacups at the time had no handle, so it was the custom to pour hot tea into a saucer for cooling and drink from the saucer. The cup was set aside on a decorative cup plate like this one to prevent soiling the table linens or marring the tabletop.