The Sloop Polly Cup Plate

The Sandwich Historical Society presents the 5th in its series of historical cup plates, The Sloop Polly. This glass cup plate, similar to those originally produced by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, was made for the Society by the McDermott Glass Studio in Sandwich, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.

When Deming Jarves founded his glass factory in Sandwich in 1825, the Polly, a 35 ton sloop, was the regular packet between Sandwich and Boston. Jarves purchased the sloop and the vessel carried most of the Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. freight during the factory's early years.

The design of the cup plate is based on a painting of the Polly, a historical recreation by Sandwich artist Ben Neill.

It was custom in the early 19th century to pour hot tea from the 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 cup plate to prevent soiling the table linens or marring the tabletop.