This cup plate is a reproduction of a plate originally produced by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company around 1830. This lacy design plate has a stylized heart and diamond border with a pin-wheel design in the center. The plate is marked "SM" designating it as a reproduction authorized by the Sandwich Historical Society's Glass Museum. The cup plate was made by McDermott Studios on Cape Cod.
It was the custom in the early 19th century to pour hot tea from a cup which had no handle into a deep saucer for cooling, then drink the tea from the saucer. The cup was set aside on a small plate called a cup plate to prevent soiling the linen or marring the table top.
